All organisations that handle chemical products are legally required to maintain a chemical inventory list. But what exactly is a chemical inventory list, and how do you ensure that it meets both environmental legislation and workplace health and safety requirements? In this article, we explain what applies, what must be included, and how digital tools can help you manage the process more efficiently and effectively.
What Is a Chemical Inventory List?
A chemical inventory list is a list of the chemical products and hazardous substances present within an organisation. It shows which substances are used, in what quantities, and how they may affect health and the environment. The inventory should include the product name, intended use, quantity, and information on its classification and hazardous properties.
What Does the Law Say?
A chemical inventory list is required under both environmental legislation and occupational health and safety law. In the UK, this requirement is primarily set out in the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002, which require employers to identify, assess and control risks arising from hazardous substances in the workplace.
The purpose is to ensure that duty holders have full oversight of which chemical products and hazards are present at the workplace, including their hazardous properties, where they are used or stored, and which legal requirements apply to them.
From an environmental perspective, similar requirements are supported by the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and related regulations, which place responsibility on organisations to manage chemicals in a way that prevents harm to the environment and human health.
A Chemical Inventory List Must Include:
Product name
Classification and hazard pictograms
Information on how the product is used
Details of the extent of use – for example annual consumption or maximum storage quantity
What Counts as a Hazardous Substance Under COSHH?
Under UK legislation, particularly the COSHH Regulations, all chemical and health-related risks in the workplace must be identified and documented, not only substances supplied as labelled chemical products.
This means that the following must also be included in your risk assessment and chemical inventory where relevant:
Dusts, mists and fumes that may cause ill health
Gases and liquids that may cause burns or cold injuries
Oxygen-deficient atmospheres
Mould spores and substances produced by micro-organisms
Many organisations focus solely on their chemical products and overlook these “hidden” risks. This can result in incomplete risk assessments.
Under the COSHH, a hazardous substance is not limited to labelled chemical products. It also includes substances and exposures that arise from work activities, such as dusts, fumes, gases, mists, biological agents and oxygen-deficient atmospheres that may pose a risk to health.
In this article, we explain what hidden chemical risk sources may exist and provide practical tips on how to identify and manage them.
How to Comply With Legal Requirements in Practice
To meet legal requirements, you need more than just a list of chemical risk sources. You also need structure, up-to-date information and clear allocation of responsibilities. A well-functioning chemical inventory relies on everyone in the organisation knowing which products are used, where they are located and what risks they pose. This requires clear procedures for adding new products, removing obsolete ones and assigning responsibility for keeping the information accurate and current.
By working systematically with your chemical inventory list, you gain not only control over your chemicals, but also a solid foundation for risk assessments, environmental reporting and substitution efforts. In this way, the chemical inventory list becomes a living tool for safe and compliant chemical management, not merely an administrative requirement.
💡 Tips From Intersolia
- List all chemical products, including those that are not classified but may still pose risks.
- Record maximum storage quantities – information that is essential for risk assessments and, where applicable, permitting processes.
- Ensure the organisational structure in iChemistry reflects your operations, so it is clear where products are stored or used.
- Add other chemical risk sources as separate entries – for example dusts or fumes.
- Keep the inventory up to date – a chemical inventory list should be a living document, not a one-off exercise.
How Chemical Inventory Management Software Simplifies Compliance
By managing your chemical inventory digitally in a chemical management system such as iChemistry, you gain full visibility and ensure that all information is always up to date. A Chemical Inventory Management software solution brings all chemical-related data together in one place and makes it easy to search, filter and update information whenever needed. This provides a clear overview of which products are used, where they are located and what risks are associated with them, something that is often time-consuming and difficult to maintain manually.
By digitalising your chemical inventory list, you save time, reduce the risk of errors and ensure that everyone works with the same up-to-date information. It also makes it easier to demonstrate compliance during inspections and supports a more structured, safe and sustainable approach to chemical management.
Common Questions About Chemical Inventory
What Is a Chemical Inventory List?
A chemical inventory is a list of the chemical products and risk sources present within an organisation. It shows which substances are used, in what quantities, and how they may affect health and the environment.
Which Laws and Regulations Govern Chemical Inventories?
The requirement to maintain a chemical inventory is set out in UK environmental and health and safety legislation, primarily through the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which require employers to identify, assess and control risks associated with hazardous substances in the workplace.
Which Organisations Are Required to Maintain a Chemical Inventory?
All organisations that handle chemical products or other chemical hazards are required to maintain a chemical inventory list. This applies to manufacturing industries, laboratories and workshops, as well as healthcare facilities and educational institutions.
What Must Be Included in a Chemical Inventory List?
The chemical inventory list should include the product name, information on its intended use and quantity, as well as details of any health and environmental hazards. It should also show where the product is used or stored and whether it is subject to specific regulations or exposure limits.
How Often Should a Chemical Inventory List Be Updated?
The chemical inventory list must be kept continuously up to date. New products should be added as they are introduced, and obsolete products should be removed. It is also important to regularly check that Safety Data Sheets and quantity information are current.
Who Is Responsible for Ensuring the Chemical Inventory Is Accurate?
The duty holder, meaning the employer or the organisation operating the business, has the overall responsibility. In practice, responsibility for updating and maintaining the chemical inventory may be delegated to environmental, health and safety or workplace safety roles, but the employer always remains legally responsible for ensuring that the requirements are met.
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