I would be happy to discuss this with you. First let me provide a bit more background. I am currently working for the US Navy as an Environmental Protection Specialist. One of my primary responsibilities is assigning codes to all HAZMAT that allow us to track everything for reporting purposes and where HAZMAT can be stored and what it can be stored with. I have also been independently contracted to help local businesses and schools in our area with their chemical storage, chemical hygiene plans, and hazardous waste programs. Over the years, I have noticed that there seems to be a significant knowledge gap in understanding the information provided on an SDS and how that can impact storage compatibility.
For this study, HAZMAT will refer to anything that has a manufacturer SDS. I have created a series of alpha numeric codes that I call Material Hazard Codes (MHC) to categorize the most severe hazards listed on an SDS. The focus is on storage and not chemical use. For example, if you had an SDS where it was a Category 1 skin sensitizer and a Category 2 Flammable liquid, the flammable liquid hazard would be a higher concern than the skin sensitizer. To help assign the MHC, I have created a flow chart and dichotomous key (both function the same) to help a user take the information from an SDS and assign an MHC. Finally, I have a storage matrix that allows you to compare two different codes together to see if they are storage compatible.
This goal of the survey is for proof-of-concept. I am looking to see if my tools help the participant to determine the correct storage compatibility. My goal is to develop a system that anyone can use to determine the safe storage of HAZMAT regardless of their personal chemistry knowledge. The first part of the survey determines the baseline. I will ask questions about what hazard(s) are the greatest concern and if two different products can be stored together. The second part of the survey will ask the same questions, only this time the participant will have my tools to use.
All participation is voluntary and no personal identifying information is collected.
This sounds like an interesting project. Could you please share a bit more about the tools to support chemical storage that you mentioned and how the survey data will be used?
Sincerely,
Jack Reidy (he/him)
Research Safety Specialist & Chemical Hygiene Officer
Environmental Health & Safety
Stanford University
484 Oak Road, Stanford, CA, 94305
Tel: (650) 497-7614
I acknowledge that the land on which I live and work is the ancestral and unceded land of the
Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. As an uninvited guest on these lands, I am a beneficiary of the ongoing displacement of the Ohlone people. I pay my respects to the Native peoples, past and present.
My name is Amanda MacPherson, and I am a doctoral candidate at Capitol Technology University pursuing a PhD in Occupational Health and Safety. I am conducting research on
“Hazardous Material Hazard Classification and Storage Compatibility,” focusing on how individuals interpret Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and evaluate chemical storage compatibility.
I am currently collecting data and seeking professionals who handle or store hazardous materials—defined here as any material with a manufacturer‑provided SDS. Your insights will help
improve practical, user‑friendly tools that support safer chemical storage and better decision‑making in real‑world settings.
The IRB approved survey takes approximately
30 minutes to 1 hour to complete. Participation is voluntary, and all responses are anonymous. The survey link is provided below.
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