SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS

Asset Classes

Focus Area

Indoor Air Quality and Hazards

Topic

IAQ Hazards

Question #

I6.2 – Hazardous Chemicals Management

Question

Is a Hazardous Chemical Product Management Program implemented at the building?

Applicability

Applicable to all buildings (systems or equipment in the owner or landlord’s control)

Answer

Yes or No

Description

Identification and management of chemical products in use or storage at the building is essential to manage health hazards and safety risks, as well as potential environmental impacts.

Internationally, a Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for safety related to the use of hazardous chemical products has been developed by the United Nations. Similar systems such as the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) in Canada and HAZCOM in the US are regulated approaches to the management of hazardous chemical or use-related products.

A use-related product is defined as anything that is brought into the building and can include a hazardous chemical. A hazardous chemical is defined as a dangerous good which could be a solid, liquid, or gas that can harm people, other living organisms, property, or the environment.

Requirements

The Hazardous Chemical Products Management Program must include all following components:

    1. Periodic inventory of in-use, base-building hazardous chemical products (at least annually, or as procurement is revised)
    2. Storage of chemical products in accordance with product Safety Data Sheets
    3. Continuous and proactive review process to ensure up-to-date Safety Data Sheets for all hazardous chemical products are always available to employees, performed within the last three (3) years
    4. Chemical products labeled in accordance with WHMIS/GHS/HAZCOM.
    5. Training of building maintenance staff (including safe handling and use of chemicals pertaining to their work, symbol recognition, safety data sheets, first aid and spill response, storage, and disposal)
    6. Review and updating of the Program as products are changed and at least annually

Documentation

    • Hazardous Chemical Management Program

Adapted BB3 Question

Best Practice 10 – Is a Hazardous Chemical Products Management Program in place at the building?

Suggested Lead

In-house

References

None

Crosswalk

TBD

Other Notes

None

Scoring

2 Points

Verification