Hello, 

I recently became the Chemical Hygiene Officer at Wittenberg University and I am hoping you can help me with a couple of questions:

Inventory Systems

• I am looking for chemical inventory system recommendations that are cost effective and user friendly. I have gotten quotes from UNHCEMS, VelocityEHS, EHSInsight, EcoOnline, CampusOptics, and ChemicalSafety. I have also tried the free system ChemInventory, but I could not figure out how to add synonyms for the chemicals and I didn't love that the system defaults the date the chemical is added as the date acquired. Please let me know if there is a way to get around either of those issues. Additionally, I would love to know if you have any of these chemical management software and your opinions on them or if you have other system recommendations?

Explosion vs Flammable Fridge/freezers

• I understand that the difference between Flammable Fridges/Freezers and Explosion-proof Fridges/Freezers is that the explosion proof have spark-proof interiors and exteriors rather than just spark-proof interiors. We have an explosion proof fridge/freezer in our chemical stockroom that needs to be replaced. We have a flammable fridge that we could use as the replacement, but I want to make sure an explosion-proof fridge is not necessary. Our stockroom has vented cabinets and a relatively small amount of volatile chemicals, but I was hoping to get more experienced opinions on this!

Student Lab Safety

• There has been an increase in students attending classes/labs with long acrylic nails. Do you all have any information regarding the safety of fake nails while working with chemicals or safety precautions that anyone has put into place around this? 

I really appreciate any and all advice,

Rachel Kaiser ’22 (she/her/hers)

Chemistry Lab Coordinator | Chemical Hygiene Officer

Wittenberg University

(937)327-6442

 

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