Hazardous laboratory chemicals are required to be barcoded and inventoried using the chemical inventory software, BioRAFT. For more information on hazardous laboratory chemicals and examples, refer to EHSS Hazardous Chemical Guide.
Inventory exempt chemicals are not required to be barcoded or inventoried in the chemical inventory software, BioRAFT. For more information on inventory exempt chemicals and examples, refer to EHSS Inventory Exempt Chemical Guide.
Gas Cylinders are required to be inventoried but will be barcoded and inventoried differently than other laboratory chemicals. The following provides more information on inventorying gas and cryogen cylinders.
Contents
Will gas cylinders be delivered to Chemical Receiving?
No, gas cylinders will continue to be delivered to the departments as they are now (either directly to the laboratory or to the department’s cylinder storage area).
Will gas cylinders be tracked in the chemical inventory system?
Yes. All primary, manufacturer supplied gas cylinders will need to be tracked in the chemical inventory system. Dewars and other secondary gas storage containers are excluded from tracking and do not need to be included in the chemical inventory.
Will cylinders of inert gases and cryogens need to be tracked?
Yes. All primary cylinders regardless their content will need to be tracked and included in the chemical inventory system. By doing so we can maintain an accurate inventory and quantification of all gases present in the laboratories and provide ready access to safety information for all types of gases.
How will cylinders be barcoded and tracked?
A Gas Cylinder/Cryogen sign will be posted at each location (laboratory, storage room, etc.) where a gas cylinder(s) are stored. The sign will include a barcode for each gas cylinder typically stored in that location and the barcode will identify the type of gas and size of each cylinder in the chemical inventory software system. For example, if a room typically has two hydrogen cylinders and a nitrogen cylinder, three barcodes will be adhered to the cylinder inventory sign for that area – one for the nitrogen cylinder, and one for each hydrogen cylinder.
During the campus wide chemical inventory and implementation phase of the chemical inventory system, EHSS will work with Principal Investigators and department representatives to inventory their gas cylinders and place cylinder inventory signs with the assigned cylinder barcodes in the cylinder storage areas.
How will the cylinder inventory be updated?
Replacement Cylinders: When a replacement cylinder is delivered to the lab or storage area for an in-kind exchange with an existing used/empty cylinder, no inventory update will be needed. The new cylinder will take the place of the exchanged empty/used cylinder in the chemical inventory system. This includes replacement cylinders delivered to the lab directly by the vendor or when the lab retrieves a replacement cylinder from a department’s cylinder storage area. As long as the replacement contains the same gas and is the size of the cylinder it is replacing, no update in the chemical inventory system is required.
New, Non-replacement Cylinders: When a new type or size of cylinder is brought into a lab, it will be the responsibility of the principal investigator to notify Chemical Receiving staff of the new cylinder so it can be added to the areas’ cylinder inventory. Once notified of the new cylinder, Chemical Receiving staff will update the chemical inventory system and add a barcode for the new cylinder to the area’s cylinder inventory sign.
Increase or Decrease in Quantity of Cylinders: If an increase or decrease in the number or type of gas cylinders stored in the area occurs, the PI must notify Chemical Receiving staff to make the necessary changes in the software and to update the area’s Cylinder Inventory sign.
If assistance is needed, please contact EHSS 315.443.6883 or ehss@syr.edu.