ChemSW’s CISPro Inventory Solution Offers Unique Functionality for Meeting New Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standard 6 CFR Part 27
Fairfield, CA June 18, 2007 – The CIS Chemical Inventory System is a high-performance, relational database system developed specifically for the management and tracking of laboratory chemicals and supplies. It tracks and maintains accurate, real-time chemical inventory information for use in regulated or non-regulated environments or a combination of both.
Unique CISPro Function Enables Compliance with New DHS Standard
Now, unique new functionality enables users of CISPro Global and CISPro Live to easily comply with the new U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standard, 6 CFR Part 27. The new standard is expected to be finalized by early July, 2007. Once it is finalized, any organization with DHS “Chemicals of Interest” on site that exceed specified threshold levels will be required to develop and implement a site security plan for managing and reporting those chemicals.
Other federal agencies have addressed chemical facility safety, but not security. This 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.
Rule Requires Site Security Plan for Designated Chemicals
While most of the Chemicals of Interest are specified in relatively large quantities, some must be managed and reported if they are on site in any amount. Therefore it is important for organizations to investigate the requirements of the new standard. Many of the more than 300 chemicals on the DHS’ Chemicals of Interest list – such as sodium cyanide and potassium cyanide – can be found in almost every laboratory. This means that almost every facility, laboratory, or production site which use chemicals will need new security and reporting processes. No one is exempt – including government facilities and universities – and noncompliance won’t be tolerated.
Even if a designated chemical is in inventory and only exceeds the threshold level once or twice a year, continuous monitoring is still required and enforceable. Once the final rule is issued, companies will have 60 days to comply. The consequences for noncompliance can range from fines of up to $25K per day to closure of the facility in severe cases.
Reporting Status of Designated Chemicals in Inventory Now Mandatory
While managing chemicals that appear on the DHS Chemicals of Interest list and reporting when threshold levels are exceeded appears relatively simple, there are some very specific requirements
It’s easy to report chemical levels if an end-to-end inventory program is in place. But it needs to be a program that’s being managed in real time, not by a once a year inspection. Reporting must happen any time a chemical on the list goes over the specified amount, so the security plan needs to function all the time. It’s critical to have an ongoing process for monitoring inventory levels accurately.
CISPro Makes Reporting Status of Chemicals of Interest Easy
ChemSW’s CISPro Global and CISPro Live chemical inventory systems now have a unique new function that can upload the DHS Chemicals of Interest list, match the list to the chemicals in inventory, and automatically flag chemicals when an over-limit situation occurs. With this real-time information, Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) staff can promptly create and send reports to the DHS to ensure compliance.
Getting into compliance can be done for relatively little cost. However, staying in compliance is a continuous process and that’s where commercial chemical inventory systems such as CISPro Global and CISPro Live can really help. ChemSW is the first to offer the ability to monitor and categorize specific chemicals according to the standard. CISPro Global users will be able to comply with little change to their existing system. If a facility doesn’t have a computerized inventory system with all the necessary functionality, the new CISPro Live SAAS (Software As A Service) solution can enable organizations to get up to speed quickly and cheaply.
In addition to tracking the designated chemicals, the new CISPro function also ensures that incoming chemicals are not made available for general use until they have been reviewed against the DHS list. If the system flags the material as DHS-regulated, the chemical won’t be made available for use until it has been assessed and approved.
CISPro’s Real-Time Inventory Information Exceeds DHS Requirements
It is now very important to know in real time exactly what is in inventory. Slice-of-time or interval-based re-inventory systems do not meet the DHS requirements. Only a continuously updated solution that revises immediately every time new material is received, moved or disposed can meet the requirement. With CISPro Live, we include and update the Chemicals of Interest list automatically. With our CISPro Global solution, the user uploads the list.
Available now, the new function is resident in ChemSW’s CISPro Global and CISPro Live chemical inventory systems. There is no cost for the capability beyond the cost to upgrade to those solutions.
For details about the DHS 6 CFR Part 27 standard, visit http://www.dhs.gov.
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 10,000 customers in more than 40 countries throughout the world.
If you would like more information on this exciting new product please feel free to contact us at info@chemsw.com .
