How to identify chemicals or ingredients for elimination
June 20, 2018
Banning, Prohibiting, and or Restricting a Chemical or Ingredient
Eliminating the chemical or ingredient in the workplace eliminates the health hazards associated with the chemical or ingredient. Elimination can prevent injuries, illness, loss or adverse effects on the environment. Elimination is the first method of control in the hierarchy of controls to consider. Elimination of a chemical or ingredient can take on a few different meanings, including banning, prohibiting, and restricting.
Banned Workplace Chemicals or Ingredients
Banned Chemicals or Ingredients are not to be present on a job site.
This method of control would begin with controlling access through a chemical approval process. Current inventories can be searched to determine if a chemical is being used and act to eliminate it.
Banned Lists contain those chemicals and ingredients that are banned for use. The intention of “Banned Lists” is not to simply provide a checklist to eliminate chemicals of concern. Rather, it should be viewed as specific examples that may also be used to guide substitution.
Prohibited Workplace Chemicals or Ingredients
Prohibited Chemicals or Ingredients are allowed with very specific controls and limits. May require Senior Management and or HSE Committee approval. Organizations can select what chemicals and or ingredients are prohibited from their job sites and determine controls and limitations during the chemical approval process.
Prohibited Lists contain those chemicals and ingredients that have been approved with very specific controls. The intention of “Prohibited Lists” is not to simply provide a checklist to eliminate chemicals of concern. Rather, it should also be viewed as specific examples that may substituted and/or require external monitoring or controls verification.
Restricted Workplace Chemicals or Ingredients
Restricted Chemicals or Ingredients are allowed with very specific controls and limits. Restriction may be based on use, volume, and/or environmental concerns. Organizations can select what chemicals and or ingredients are restricted and determine controls and limitations during the chemical approval process. Products listed in different environments and import requirements can be linked to meet restrictions.
How To Identify Chemicals Or Ingredients For Elimination: 3 Steps to Get You Started
- Identify chemicals or ingredients of concern to human health and the environment. This can be done right in sdsBinders. Run a regulatory report on designated substances of concern (i.e. BC/ON Designated Substances List, Alberta Code of Practice Schedule 1) for your jurisdiction to scan your chemical inventory. This will identify chemicals of concern in your jurisdiction.
- Search for chemicals or ingredients of concern in your chemical inventory. This can be done in sdsBinders by searching your chemical inventory by CAS number for the substance of concern.
- Act and eliminate. Once the substance restriction has been adopted, your organization must comply. The elimination of a substance must be in your chemical approval and handling process. It needs to be communicated to all areas from procurement to field workers.
Speak to a Chemscape Representative for further information on the elimination and substitution of dangerous substances as well as how you can use our CHAMP technology in sdsBinders to begin substituting for less hazardous chemicals.
