Chemical Management System for Life Cycle of Chemicals

Sponsor: Provost and Paul Page, Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance

This project is aimed at evaluating the life cycle of chemical materials to determine if changes in the current system could result in improved and more cost-effective chemical management practices. The components of this system would include all elements associated with chemicals from the initial ordering to the ultimate disposal, including the purchasing, receipt, delivery, storage, dispensing, use and disposal. This project will evaluate current chemical management practices in terms of serving the needs of the campus, providing chemicals in an efficient and effective manner, minimizing hazardous waste generated, and conforming to EPA regulatory requirements.

This project has been delayed while the department of Environmental Health and Safety [EH&S] has been assessing the relationship between the goals of this project and the regulatory requirements of the state Department of Environmental Protection [DEP] and the federal Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]. The formal appointment of a project team was deferred until all of the affected departments could be contacted and recommendations for the composition of project team could be determined.

There will be co-leaders of the project team with Donald Robinson representing Administration and Finance [A&F] and a yet to be named person representing academic affairs.

Expected members of the project team include:

Charlie Gibson Procurement
Marvin Ellin Chemistry
Tom McCarthy PSE
Lila Gierasch [or designee] Bio-Chemistry
Phil Westmoreland Chemical Engineering
Jerry Meyer Psychology
Lyle Craker Plant and Soil Science
Dave Markland Budget Office
Jim Fox EH&S
Dave Bull Physical Plant
Sal DiNardi Environmental Health Sciences

In preparation for launching this project EH&S has been researching how other universities are approaching this task. One key element that needs to be assessed is the feasibility of an inventory tracking system. In this regard initial inquires were made and one institution, the University of New Hampshire, was identified as having used a commercial system and modifying it to more effectively meet their needs. When the project team is formed, a more in-depth review of the UNH program will be undertaken. Other universities such as Youngstown State have a centralized purchasing system for all chemicals. Youngstown noted that an important part of the program is upper administrative support. The program is described at http://www.cc.ysu.edu/eohs/. Some of the systems that the project team could consider include: ChIM by Vertere, CHEMpro, ChemSW, and MSDSpro.

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