Happily, EMS can help make the whole transition easier as the tools are in place right now. Let me show you what we’ve got.

1. Open EMS to view an MSDS record. Click on the Environmental tab to see the GHS Classification field.

2. Select the pop-up button to display a list of GHS Classifications. Select all of the classifications that apply to that chemical; you will see them listed in the text box.

3) Next, we go to the Action Menu to print out labels. There are 2 options. One for printing the Hazard Warning labels, the other for printing the Transportation labels:

1) Here’s the Globally Harmonized System Label:

2) Here’s the Globally Harmonized System Transportation Label:

You can also customize labels in Crystal Reports – adding chemical and manufacturer names, barcodes, etc – and then print them from the integrated EMS menu. We help you to do this as part of our standard support that comes with the software – there is no additional charge for this customization.

Click here to learn more about our MSDS Management module. If you would like more help with your GHS transition, please give our Tech Support Department a call at 510.594.1000 x 52. Meanwhile, stay tuned!

The new standard has big implications for every company that stores and handles chemicals.  It requires new labelling and new Safety Data Sheets  (SDS) for every chemical on site. The new colored labels require new signal words as well as new standardized images. The new Safety Data Sheets replace the current Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and contain additional information and new images as well.

You have until December 1, 2013 to train employees on the new labelling system and the new Safety Data Sheets. But don’t worry – if you are an existing Chemical Safety customer, you’re covered! Just contact our technical support team to get our latest update – it already has full GHS support built in. If you need help with the transition, give us a call. We have the methodology and software tools to help make it as painless as possible.

EMS 5.0 is out, and we’ve hit the ground running by installing it for an EPA environmental cleanup project that has garnered quite a bit of press. In this project, the South Prescott neighborhood in Oakland, California, is paving the way with a new method to mitigate the harmful effects of lead that has contaminated the soil.

Although EMS 5.0 is a major new release that features a rewrite “under the hood” using Microsoft’s Dot Net technology, this is not the main thing for these users. What they notice most is the new functionality and new ways to adapt the EMS tools to the specific needs of the project:

• Google Maps
• Customizable Forms
• Custom Audit Questionnaires on the iPad
• Attach Photos, Videos, and Documents
• Integrated Crystal Reports
• Adhoc Report with Graphs, Gauges, and Dashboards

Click here to read about the details…

The data from the survey is synced to EMS (Environmental Management System), where corrective action notifications and reports can be automatically emailed to pre-configured users.

Features

• User login provides a customizable level of security
• Answers are in all of the common formats: yes/no, radio buttons, numeric, dropdown selections, and free-form text
• Photos can be taken on the iPad and attached to the answers
• Smart questionnaire generates follow-on questions based on answers to previous questions.
• Google map feature allows audit creation and review by building location
• Map feature displays the buildings with a flag to color-coded to indicate audit status such as overdue, coming due, etc.
• Both online and offline (batch) operation. Online mode provides real-time wireless database updates. Offline mode stores data locally and updates at the click of a button.
• Corrective action notifications and reports can be automatically emailed to pre-configured users.

EMS.Audit is also available on Symbol PDAs – the MC70 and 9000 series (including iSafe) models.
Contact us at ems@chemicalsafety.com or 510.594.1000 x 27 to learn more.

Click here to view larger PDF of Jean-Michel Cousteau’ visit on 7-13-11

However, we all know that the report will only be as good as the quality of the data, i.e., Garbage In = Garbage Out.

So this week’s tip is about how to handle the case where there is a discrepancy between what was entered on your manifest and the quantity that the TSDF found when they received the waste.

The Biennial Report tool collects the data that is in the Manifest Item forms. It looks for a value in the field Quantity Manifested. If it finds a zero or blank in this field, it looks for a quantity in the Quantity Shipped field.

If a different value is entered in the Quantity Shipped, there is an option on the Manifest / Action menu that will copy these TSDF Quantity Shipped values to the Quantity Manifested field, so the Biennial Report will have the correct quantities.

Click here to learn more about our Hazardous Waste Management module.  If you would like more help with your Biennial Report, please give our Tech Support Department a call at 510.594.1000 x 52. Meanwhile, validate that data!

EMS 5.0 has a number of significant new features, including:

• Add custom search fields on the fly.
• Add User-Defined Fields (UDFs) on the fly
• Add custom forms
• Integration with Google Maps for one-click access to MSDS, Inventory and Audit Data

EMS 5.0 has the same easy to use Quick Start home page…

It gives you one-click access to your most important activities, all in one place. It presents a big-picture view of how everything fits together, with arrows to guide you from one task to the next. Key activities are consolidated in one place. It also lets you see activities separated by business function, and segregates those functions into logical groups.

• Principal Investigators and chemical users can now manage their inventories easily, find/obtain/order chemicals available on site, look up MSDS information with a single click, make electronic chemical disposal requests, and mark chemicals as ‘surplus’.
• Environmental Health and Safety departments can readily manage new chemical approvals, MSDS updates and regulatory reports. They can also get automated reminders of over-due tasks and projects, perform inspections and audits, and review data alerts easily.
• Facilities operations can readily access chemical receiving and transfer functions, waste pick-up/disposal function and produce required shipping paperwork and related documentation.
• Corporate and Facility/Plant Management can review the compliance performance of facilities, the status of permits and related tasks, and produce a variety of reports and data related to effectively managing their organizations.

EMS 5.0 also includes:

• Integration with the new 2011 Emergency Response Guide (ERG)
• New Fire Code Regulations
• Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)
• Multilingual Capabalities
• Electronic Reporting

Click here for more details.

Also developed in partnership with Novartis, Chemical Safety’s Radioisotope Tracking System (RTS) is designed to help manage the use of low-level radioactive isotopes from purchasing through waste disposal in a multi-user, multi-facility environment. RTS has been integrated into Chemical Safety’s Environmental Management Systems (EMS) software as a unique component that manages isotope purchase, use and disposal all within the context of the regulatory framework that Novartis is required to operate under, and all in real time. The software automatically decays isotopes and checks purchasing and usage against facility and RUA licensed limits and reports discrepancies.

Click here for more details.