Users of CISPro Global and CISPro Live chemical inventory systems can easily comply with the new US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standard, 6 CFR Part 27
The new 6 CFR Part 27 standard is expected to be finalised by early July 2007.
Once it is finalised, any organisation 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.
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 you have an end-to-end inventory program in place," states ChemSW president Brian Stafford.
"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".
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," explains Stafford.
"But 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.
"We're the first to offer the ability to monitor and categorise specific chemicals according to the standard.
"Our CISPro Global users will be able to comply with little change to their existing system.
"If a facility doesn't have a computerised inventory system with all the necessary functionality, our new CISPro Live SAAS (software as a service) can enable them 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.
"It is now very important to know in real time exactly what is in inventory," Stafford emphasises.
"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".
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.
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.
"This is why it's important for organisations to investigate the requirements of the new standard," states Stafford.
"Many of the more than 300 chemicals on the DHS's Chemicals of Interest list - such as sodium cyanide and potassium cyanide - can be found in just about every laboratory.
"So just about any facility, any lab, any production site that uses chemicals will need new security and reporting processes.
"No one is exempt - including government facilities and universities - and noncompliance won't be tolerated.
"It makes sense to err on the side of caution and ensure that your site is in compliance".
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.
