WORKING WITH CHEMICALS

Chemical registers

Every workgroup should have a Chemical Register. The chemical register is a tool for the management of the chemicals used and stored by a workgroup. It includes a list of chemicals, their classification, storage locations and typical volumes. The register also provides information about how each chemical is used with links to the MSDS, risk assessments and standard operating procedures.

ChemAlert and Labelling

The Chem Alert database provides access to a large range of supplier Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs), which can be viewed and printed in a standard format. ChemAlert should be used for printing labels for decanted chemicals.

If a procedure is left unattended you must label it with your name (and contact phone number if the procedure is left unattended outside of normal working hours), the date, experiment reference number (e.g. code used in your lab notebook) and an emergency shutdown procedure if appropriate (find more information in the safety manual).