Chemical Safety and Lifecycle Management Program

DOE-HDBK-1139/2-2006

Chemical Safety and Lifecycle Management Program

1.0

Introduction

This Ha ndbook provides guidance to Department of Energy (DO E) sites for developing a

Chemical Safety and Lifecycle Management (CSLM) program that uses a graded approach to

controlling and monitoring chemical activities while protecting site personnel, the public, and the

environment. The CSLM program presented in this Handbook was developed using a common

sense approach and given a hierarchical structure that may be applied across the DOE Complex

in administrative, production, maintenance, and laboratory environme nts. Using this guidance

will help to ensure that the program is compliant with applicable regulatory requirements and

falls under the umbrella of the site's Integrated Safety Management System (ISMS) and its

Environmental Management System (EMS).

1.1

Program Benefits

There are two key benefits and several ancillary benefits (See Section 5.4 for a summary of

benefits) that may be realized with the full implementation of this CSLM program. The key

benefits are: (1) a reduction in the potential for significant accidents and (2) a reduction in costs.

There is a synergistic interaction between these two benefits. Any reduction in significant

accidents achieved through the implementation of ISMS and EMS principles will clearly result

in a reduction in overall costs of the CSLM program. Similarly, any actions undertaken to

reduce chemical-related costs through the application of hazard identification, analysis, and

controls at the procurement stage will lower the potential for occurrence of significant chemical

incidents by reducing exposure through the reduction of chemical quantities.

1.1.1

Reduction in the Potential for Significant Accidents

A review of the DOE accident literature (i.e., the Occurrence Reporting and Processing System

(ORPS) database) de monstrates that chemical accidents have resulted in worker hospitalizations

or deaths, fires, explosions, releases that require evacuations, and environmental contamination.

These accidents are costly in terms of injuries, displacement of people, damage to the

environment, and replacement or repair of equipment, facilities, and data.

The CSLM program emphasizes safety as paramount in chemical management and follows

ISMS and EMS principles at each stage of the chemical lifecycle. To be most effective in

reducing the frequency and severity of potentially significant chemical incidents, the CSLM

must be tightly integrated with hazard identification, hazard analysis, and hazard mitigation

processes during all work activities.

1.1.2

Cost Reduction

Many people mistakenly believe that the cost of a chemical is simply that associated with its

purchase. Many do not realize that greater, indirect costs are often incurred during its

management. A full accounting of the direct and indirect costs associated with a chemical must

include costs incurred during each stage of its lifecycle. Procurement, storage and handling,