Chemical Owner Responsibilities

Chemical Owners must maintain an accurate inventory of all hazardous chemicals (including gases) for which they are responsible for in the Chemical Management System (CMS). This includes ensuring hazardous chemicals and gases are inventoried in CMS with the correct information and that the container records are disposed of in the inventory when the materials have been used up, disposed of, or taken off site.

The chemical owner may choose to assign various inventory management tasks to chemical users, also known as proxies to the owner. The chemical owner, Division Safety Coordinator, or CMS program staff can assign proxy role in CMS. Proxies can add to, edit and dispose of the owner’s inventory. A lab manager role is also available and has the same privilege as the owner in CMS. Email cms@lbl.gov if you need help with CMS roles/access. 

The chemical owner is accountable and responsible for the proper labeling, testing, management, and recordkeeping of their time sensitive chemicals (including peroxide forming chemicals). You are required to record the time sensitive chemical testing or inspection results in CMS, which allows you to receive alerts for various test results and notifications for upcoming testing. The chemical owner may choose to assign time sensitive chemical labeling, testing, management and recordkeeping tasks to his/her proxies. Split containers of time sensitive chemicals in storage must also be tagged and entered in CMS.

Before vacating an area or leaving the Lab, departing chemical owners must make sure that all hazardous materials are removed, transferred to new ownership, or properly disposed of. Refer to this Inventory Transition Guidance for more details.

A chemical owner is accountable for the safe storage of hazardous chemicals, though all chemical users share the responsibility to use and store hazardous materials safely. Safe chemical usage is a Line Management responsibility. A chemical owner must provide the resources to make safe storage possible. This includes the purchase of equipment and accessories — such as cabinets and storage containers for flammables and corrosives — to control hazards. The chemical owner must have the authority to set administrative controls such as procedures for safe storage of chemicals. See the chemical storage and segregation website for full details and printable storage/segregation posters. 

Guests, students, visiting scientists, and other short-term staff cannot typically be chemical owners, but it is up to each division to assign ownership of chemicals and hazardous materials.

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