Argonne National Laboratory Chemical Management Program

DOE-HDBK-1139/2-2002

Argonne National Laboratory Chemical Management Program

1.0 Introduction and Scope

The Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) Chemical Management System (CMS) electronically integrates

chemical tracking, procurement, and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). ANL implemented its CMS

in 1992 to address the need for an enterprise solution to track tens of thousands of chemicals and MSDSs.

In 1999, the CMS was expanded to include chemicals from ANL-West in Idaho Falls.

2.0 Chemical Life-cycle Program

ANL's CMS has two key modules: the MSDS System and the Chemical Tracking System (CTS). The

MSDS system enables rapid search and location of an MSDS, specific information retrieval from the

MSDS, or delivery of the entire MSDS. Linkage of each chemical record with the corresponding MSDS

allows immediate retrieval of ingredient, Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) number, and hazard

information.

Over 33,000 scanned MSDS images are available for viewing, printing, or faxing. New chemical

purchases are captured through electronic interfaces with Procurement Systems. Chemicals are assigned

bar-codes at the receiving dock, and inventory records are created to streamline chemical ordering and

record keeping. The CTS maintains inventory records for over 110,000 bar-coded chemicals, including

location and ownership information.

The CMS facilitates compliance with environment, safety, and health (ES&H) regulations and provides a

tool for maintaining safe working environments. Reports from the system identify which chemicals are

carcinogens or date-sensitive and provide data for completion of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

TRI and SARA reports.

Other system features include satellite waste area records, bulk chemical tracking, gas cylinder inventory,

and a surplus chemical bulletin board for waste minimization. MSDS searching, viewing, and printing is

available on the Laboratory's Intranet. In addition, a laptop computer program with integrated bar-code

scanning was developed to facilitate initial and periodic re-inventory and material reconciliation.