What is a Chemical Inventory?
A chemical inventory is a list of chemical hazards expected to be present in an operation. Chemical hazards include chemical products and substances, as well as combinations of several substances, that can cause ill health or accidents — for example, due to their hazardous properties or temperature.
The information that should be included in the chemical inventory is as follows:
- Product name
- Usually refers to the trade name, which can be found on the packaging or in the product’s safety data sheet.
- Extent and use
- Extent refers to the annual consumption or amount handled or stored, stated in weight or volume.
- Use refers to the intended area of application.
- Information on the product’s health and environmental hazards
- Classification with respect to health and environmental risks.
Rules governing chemical inventories
There are no specific rules for how a chemical inventory must be formatted. The inventory may be created in an Excel document or within a chemical management system.
The advantage of a digital chemical management system is that all information is collected in one place and easily accessible to employees.
A chemical inventory should indicate the type of hazard associated with each chemical source, where it is stored or used, whether an occupational exposure limit exists, and which specific regulations apply to the substance. By carefully reviewing your chemical products, you gain a clear overview of the substances and their properties.
It is also important to ensure that your chemical inventory is always up to date and includes all chemical hazards. If authorities conduct an inspection of your operations, this information will be required. Incomplete records may result in financial penalties.
Relevant EU Legislation
The rules regarding chemical inventories and the management of hazardous substances are primarily based on EU regulations, including:
- REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 – Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals.
- CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 – Classification, Labelling and Packaging of substances and mixtures.
- Directive 98/24/EC – Protection of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work.
- Directive 2004/37/EC – Protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens, mutagens or reprotoxic substances at work.
These regulations establish the general EU framework for chemical safety, documentation, labelling, and risk management in workplaces.
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