What is ChemManager+?
ChemManager+ is a barcoded chemical inventory platform that integrates with ShopUW+ to streamline chemical inventory management and hazard communication. It is used by anyone that needs to search for, order, and purchase chemicals for research and teaching labs. ChemManager+ helps PIs and lab managers provide a safer working lab environment for their staff.
As part of the OSHA Lab Standard, labs on campus have always been required to maintain a chemical inventory and provide safety data sheets (SDS) to lab staff. ChemManager+ is a UW System- and campus-supported tool that automates and simplifies these tasks.
As a lab adds chemical containers to their inventory, ChemManager+ communicates with an SDS management system to find and attach the specific SDS for that container in the inventory. Then, anyone in the lab can access the safety information for that container. Instead of having to manage SDS, lab staff and instructors can focus on their research and classes.
When can I use ChemManager+?
EH&S is rolling this platform out gradually across campus. When we onboard your lab, we will provide everything required to get started, including a barcode scanner, labels, training, and support. Additionally, we have a trained team of staff who can barcode and upload your current chemical inventory (if desired) at no cost to your lab. Post-deployment, EH&S will provide additional barcode labels and can loan mobile computers for reconciliation purposes.
If you are interested in using the platform before your department’s scheduled deployment, please submit a request here. If you are willing to barcode your own chemicals, we can provide training and get you up and running even quicker!
What are some of the features of the platform?
In addition to enhanced SDS management, you can:
- Search the vendor catalogs or your own inventory by functional group.
- Streamline purchasing of chemicals that you use often.
- Control the visibility of containers within your department.
- Cross-reference your inventory with various regulatory lists to help you determine components of your Chemical Hygiene Plan.
- Manage your resources by reducing duplicate purchases.
What do I have to do?
UW-Madison is making a significant investment in the research enterprise through this project. We want to help you by doing the work of setting up your existing inventory. To start using ChemManager+, a lab should:
- Provide information when requested by the project team.
- Prepare by accessing our training and meeting with our team to set up your lab.
- Once set up, purchase chemicals through ChemManager+ whenever possible.
- Ensure chemicals you acquire are correctly barcoded and entered into your ChemManager+ inventory.
- Keep your inventory current and periodically reconcile. We can help with that, too!
Where can I learn more?
Please check out our website, chemmanager.wisc.edu, for more information. You can also preview our Canvas training page, full of resources to get you up and running! If you have any questions, contact the team at chemmanager@wisc.edu.
by Amy Riedemann & Aaron McCoy
Amy Riedemann is the Chemical Safety Systems Manager. She joined EH&S in 2021 and leads the implementation of ChemManager+ for the UW-Madison campus.
Aaron McCoy is the Assistant Chemical Hygiene Officer. He joined EH&S in 2016 and oversees the ChemManager+ platform while supporting all UW-Madison chemical safety programs.
It’s Biosafety and Biosecurity Month 2024! Look out for more biosafety topics each week in October.
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