ChemSW to Host DHS Compliance Webinar Series on Best Practices for Compliance with New DHS Chemical Standard
Fairfield, California, November 28, 2007 – ChemSW, Inc. will host a free webinar series that addresses new compliance requirements of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standard, 6 CFR Part 27. The new standard was finalized November 20, 2007. Now, any organization with DHS “Chemicals of Interest” on site that exceed specified Screening Threshold Quantities (STQ) is required to develop and implement a site security plan for managing and reporting those chemicals as well as file their first Top Screen Report by January 19, 2008.
“Other federal agencies have addressed chemical facility safety, but not security,” explains Rick Musselman, Instructor, Author and Sr. Technical Specialist for ChemSW. “The new rule establishes risk-based performance standards for the security of chemical facilities nationwide. Those sites must develop and implement site security plans to manage the secure receipt, storage, distribution and disposal of certain chemicals on site in accordance with the standard’s requirements. In almost every case, the organization will need to create a new site security plan.”
The final rule incorporates new requirements not present in the proposed rule issued last summer. Now, all facilities are required to review all placarded chemicals and substances on site against the minimum threshold quantities defined in the DHS Chemicals of Interest list. Any chemicals or substances over the minimum quantity must be reported every time the quantity is exceeded.
Learn How to Comply with the DHS Standard’s Chemical Safety Requirements
“The clock started ticking as soon as the updated Chemicals of Interest in Appendix A was published in the Federal Register,” states Musselman. “Compliance tasks need to be accomplished now, because all affected facilities have just 60 days to comply and submit their first Top Screen report.”
To assist organizations with compliance, ChemSW’s webinar series incorporates key compliance principles culled from ChemSW’s ground-breaking white paper entitled Best Practices in Managing Laboratory Chemical Inventory. The white paper details the steps necessary to ensure that an organization’s chemical inventory system works seamlessly not only with other Information Technology (IT) solutions to track chemical location and use, but also generates reports and provides continuous access to hazard information.
Understand How to Identify and Optimize Critical Inventory System Components
This unique webinar explores the different ways to implement an inventory system, from internally developed solutions to off-the-shelf Chemical Inventory Systems (CIS) to outsourcing all or some of the inventory tasks. The strengths and weaknesses of each solution will be addressed, enabling attendees to define the best CIS for their laboratory.
In addition, the instructor will guide attendees through a short self-diagnostic test to determine the effectiveness of their current chemical inventory management system, and what areas to investigate to change bottlenecks in their chemical inventory processes.
Topics:
- Requirements of the New DHS Chemical Facility Standard, 6-CFR-Part 27
- Understanding the Standard’s Risk-Based Performance Metrics
- How to Develop and Implement a Compliant Site Security Plan
- The DHS Chemicals of Interest List: What You Need to Know
- Track, Manage, and Report Minimum Threshold Quantities with an Inventory System
- Risk Mitigation: Advantages of a Comprehensive Chemical Inventory System
- Reasons Why Inventory Systems Fail and Why Systems Succeed
- Components of a Best Practices Chemical Inventory System
- Pros and Cons of Various Inventory Management Solutions
- Identifying and Correcting Weaknesses in an Existing Inventory System
- Implementing an End-to-End, Real-Time Holistic Inventory Solution
Webinar Highlights How Inventory Systems Can Leverage Best Practices
The goal of the webinar is to enable attendees to define and implement the optimal CIS for their organization. A solution that will not only perform required tasks such as chemical stock monitoring, forecasting, and setting and assessing chemical stock levels, but also address regulatory requirements — including the new DHS standard. Specific requirements of the new DHS standard will be discussed in depth and different types of solutions will be covered.
To help ensure that attendees know all the components of an effective CIS and how to make it work, seminar attendees will receive a copy of Musselman’s recently revised and expanded white paper entitled Best Practices for Managing Chemical Inventory.
Gaining control of your organization’s chemical inventory by implementing Best Practices not only provides numerous opportunities for waste and cost reduction but also enables your organization to go beyond compliance to implement environmentally preferable purchasing, chemical exchanges, and other waste minimization and pollution prevention initiatives.
Who should attend:
- Laboratory Managers
- QA/QC Managers
- Inventory Managers
- IT Professionals
- EH&S Professionals
- Chemical Hygienists
- Stockroom Managers
The first DHS Compliance Webinar is scheduled for January 10, 2008, 1-2 pm Pacific Standard Time.
About the Speaker
Rick Musselman is Sr. Technical Specialist/Inventory Consultant, for ChemSW where he is responsible for CISPro solutions support and training. He is the author of the ground-breaking white paper entitled Best Practices for Managing Chemical Inventory. He has more than ten years experience supporting and training hundreds of users in the field of chemical inventory tracking and management, utilizing computer and software support skills honed in the telecommunications industry. Rick can be reached at rmussleman@chemsw.com.
About ChemSW
Founded over a decade ago, ChemSW is a leading provider of chemical and biochemical inventory management systems, MSDS systems and other chemistry laboratory software and services. ChemSW’s wide range of products streamline laboratory processes and reduce chemical purchasing and disposal costs. ChemSW supports over 15,000 customers in more than 40 countries throughout the world.
