NMSU Policy and HazCom program require an annual inventory of hazardous materials.  The inventory of hazardous materials (i.e. chemical inventory) should include all chemicals, high pressure cylinders, fuels, lubricants, fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticide as well as consumer items used by the University such as bleaches, cleaners, paint (oil, solvent, and latex based) and glues (unless the glue is nontoxic, 'eatable'). The only exceptions are for consumer items in small quantities that could be kept in an individual's office or desk.  The hazardous materials may be in the form of a liquid, solid, mist and vapor. As rule of thumb if small amounts of the material or its vapors would cause harm by ingestion (swallowing it) or by contact with skin or eyes, it is considered hazardous and should be on this inventory.

Please note that the chemical inventory is currently compiled a computer database. Data can be entered, viewed and changed via the web.  For areas with up to 500 or so different chemical products, input via the web database is relatively easy (click here). 

Prepare a separate inventory for each room or area where chemicals are used or stored for use.   Upon completion, print out the inventory summary on the database.  Print a copy to be kept in the room and the electronic database file will be accessible to Envrionmental Health and Safety (EH&S).  A copy of the updated inventory for each work area should be printed & kept in the work area.

Location and Contact data

• Chemical name - The common trade, product, or chemical name.  Typically this is the name given on the manufactures label.  Do not use formulas.  You may abbreviate name if necessary to enter it in the worksheet

• Location  - give common storage location for the chemical in room/area. This is to help identify the location of hazardous materials in large work areas or labs in the event of an emergency.  If the material is normally kept in the flammable cabinet, on lab bench or in a welding cart then indicated the approximate location within the room or area. Typical examples - on lab bench, in flammable cabinet by back wall, in acid cabinet beneath hood, on welding cart, in underground tank, in 55 gallon drum, etc.

• Manufactures name - give the name of the manufacture, supplier, or distributor for the product or chemical.   This should match the MSDS

• Typical maximum quantity - This should be the maximum amount that is commonly kept in this location. 
  • Amount - This may be in total volume, mass, weight.  (Use next column to indicate units).  
  • Units - For volume use liter, milliliters, pints, or gallons.  For mass use grams or kilograms. For weight indicate ounces, pounds, or tons.

• Hazard types for the chemical - Select one (or more) of the following categories:
  • HPGC - (high pressure gas cylinders);
  • POISON - (toxic, poison, pesticide, insecticide, or organic acid);
  • HIGHLY TOXIC -(lethal dose <50mg/kg - oral)
  • FLAM - (flammable, fuel, lubricant, solvent, or combustible liquid); 
  • REACT - (reactives - air or water reactive chemical, spontaneous combustible, or organic peroxide, all peroxide formers):
  • AOH - (acid, oxidizer, or heavy metal);
  • BASE  - (alkali or basic corrosive)
  • CARC - (carcinogen, mutagen, teratogen)
  • BIOHZ - (biohazard)
  • RAD - (radioactive material).
  • Note that these only to give an indication of the hazard and do not include all specific hazards.  Poison is the default. 

• MSDS available (yes or no) - Is the current MSDS  (material safety data sheets) for this material readily available (hardcopy within 10 minutes access time). The MSDS must be provided with the chemical product per University Purchase Orders requirements and must be supplied by manufacture per OSHA.regulations
  • If you do not have the MSDS, you may be able to find and print it from the internet or get it via the phone/fax.  Please see the list of links to manufactures that provide MSDSs via the internet or by FAX on the Safety Resources web page. If not then you must contact the supplier by mail and request the MSDS.
  • The law requires that the MSDS must be for the hazardous material being used, the same manufacture, strength, composition and latest available.  There are instances where the chemical product is homemade (as a research product, an instrument standard or other solution), the manufacture/supplier is unknown, or the MSDS is no longer available.   In these cases, a generic MSDS, or material safety information covering the same topics as a manufactures MSDS, must be provided.

WEB CHEMICAL DATABASE

NOTE: The following connection can be used for data entry and to check your existing chemical inventory.   It is web based, doesn't require spreadsheet software, and is easy to use.

• web chemical inventory database   

Any lab that has prevously submitted an inventory should do their updates via the web connection above. 

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• NEW LARGE INVENTORY - For areas with   several hundred (up to 500) chemical products, use the web database connection (above).   We have found this to be the easiest way to add and update the chemical inventories.

However, if you need to add a large number of new chemicals (>500 chemicals) such as a new lab you may be able to use special template.  The template must be completely fill in properly in order to use.  We have had a large number of database errors that were traced to improper units and blanks on the template.  Contact dshearer if you fit this criteria (>500 new chemicals) and are willing to complete the template completely.   Click here for additonal information (why, what, etc) on the HazCom chemical inventory.