Organizations that handle hazardous chemicals and materials will ideally have a centralized system for stakeholders to access critical roster and hazard information. A cloud-based module can offer the ability to integrate laboratory safety management with other aspects of EH&S management on the same platform. The power of such an integration is that it allows principal investigators, lab managers, supervisors, and other team leaders to easily manage roster-focused safety activities, including risk assessments, training tracking, group digital file management, and chemical inventories. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at software that includes a laboratory assessment tool and chemical hygiene plan, detailing both the process of implementation and the ways it can be integrated with other modules for complete facility safety management.

While the name “laboratory assessment tool and chemical hygiene plan” suggests work and materials exclusive to laboratory environments, this type of software can be configured for any work environment that deals with hazards. The various categories, activities, or arrangements of questions within the assessments make this possible. For example, a construction site or manufacturing company may not have any need to include “biological” or “laser” categories in an assessment, but they may have PPE or machinery that requires periodic inspections.

Initiating the software.

This type of software is designed to manage people, rooms, assessments, inventory, and equipment. During the initial module setup, users with “supervisor” status will define the different aspects of the work being done (room numbers, user roles, what kind of materials users will be working with, etc.). Forms and reports can be customized to be as simple or as comprehensive as possible, based on the individual user community’s specifications.

Once the system has been set up with this information, assessments are a simple matter. The designated assessor selects applicable hazards, with the selection expanding to show the specific list of rooms or spaces. Only the spaces where the hazards exist can be checked off. The system will make automatic recommendations for personal protective equipment (PPE) and other safety equipment, state what engineered safety controls are in place for submitted hazards, or require training based on users’ assigned roles and operations. Users can add attachments (e.g., standard operating procedures, safety data sheets, laboratory assessment tool, and chemical hygiene plan) or notes to assessments and request a review by appropriate persons (lab manager, EH&S administrator, or principal investigator).

Comprehensive safety software.

As finished assessments will include action items such as required training or equipment, software that features a laboratory assessment tool and chemical hygiene plan will need to connect with the training management systems that are in place in an organization, keeping records populated with the current status of users’ assigned training. Integrating with other key EH&S management software gives team leaders a macro view of all of their safety-related programs and all stakeholders a central repository for critical work information. End-users have the option of customizing their software to feature additional capabilities, including lab equipment asset inventory management and group digital file management. Finally, in investing in software with a laboratory assessment tool and chemical hygiene plan, users have the benefit of outside assistance at a moment’s notice through the provided 24/hour emergency contact number.

With cloud-based software that has designated mobile applications, users can access critical information on an easy-to-understand interface by logging into any web browser or the native application. Software with a laboratory assessment tool and chemical hygiene plan can be used to add or remove individuals from a roster, delegate permissions and authority, manage safety training for all stakeholders, and document hazard assessments of the laboratory or work environment. Though created specifically for the management of laboratory hazard assessments, such configurable software essentially serves as an information hub that can be adjusted to suit the EH&S programs of different work environments and industries. This lets EHS managers within any industry efficiently manage risks, hazards, and safety training across their organizations.

Author Bio

The SafetyStratus Research Advisory Group (RAG) brings together thought leaders from the global environmental, health, and safety community to promote best practices and provide key insights in the profession and the industries they serve. The Research Advisory Group also advocates, where practical, the intersection of and advances with the use of technology, such as the SafetyStratus enterprise EHS software platform. Group membership consists of representatives from across varied disciplines and market sectors as well as select members of the SafetyStratus team.
The primary objectives of the SafetyStratus RAG partnership are to:

• Build a strategic partnership between EHS practitioners and the SafetyStratus team.
• Provide engaging and practical content to the global EHS community.
• Provide discipline and market feedback specific to SafetyStratus products and services.

While the objectives of the RAG are varied, the primary public-facing outcome will be available through engaging and practical content found on the SafetyStratus resource pages. Various articles, papers, and other valuable resources will be produced and shared as part of an ongoing effort to cultivate a robust community. Ultimately, the SafetyStratus RAG will expand to have a broader reach and provide opportunities for more inclusion by all interested EHS professionals a collaborative community environment.