A complete and up to date chemical inventory is a critical component of good lab management and safety. It is also a regulatory requirement. Not having a complete and up to date chemical inventory in a laboratory can have a significant impact on various operations in and around the lab. This page shows some of the potential impacts of having, or not having, a good chemical inventory.
| NO INVENTORY EXISTS | INVENTORY EXISTS BY BUILDING | INVENTORIES EXISTS BY LABORATORY | |
| REMODELING & CONSTRUCTION | Design cannot begin without chemical inventory | Costs increased (potential overdesign) Schedule delays likely | On schedule; on budget; Cost effective design |
| SPILL RESPONSE, BOMB THREAT RESPONSE & FIRE | 8 Fire Trucks Respond. Neighboring structures evacuated. Up to 8 hours operational disruption | 3 to 5 Fire Trucks Respond. Building evacuated. Up to 3 hours operational disruption. | 2 – 3 Fire Trucks Respond. Immediate area of the building evacuated. Up to 1 hour operational disruption |
| GRANTS ELIGIBILITY | Not eligible for DOD, DOE, AHA | Not eligible for DOD, DOE, AHA | Eligible for all |
| CODE COMPLIANCE | In violation: OSHA Fire Code Building Code Operational shutdown possible if discovered | In violation: OSHA Fire Code Building Code Operational curtailment possible if discovered | Compliant |
| EARTHQUAKE | Up to one year shutdown for clean-up possible Very expensive | Up to 6 months shutdown for cleanup possible Expensive | Up to 3 months shutdown for clean-up possible1 Less expensive |
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