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

All asset classes
Owner/landlord occupied building
Tenant occupied building – systems managed by the owner/landlord

Answer & Scoring

  • Yes = 2 points
  • No = 0 points
  • Not applicable – Tenant occupied building: No systems managed by the owner/landlord = 0/0

Max of 2 points

Requirements

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

  • Responsible parties
  • The building team’s training requirements (including safe handling and use of chemicals pertaining to their work, symbol recognition, safety data sheets, first aid and spill response, storage, and disposal)
  • Inventory of all hazardous chemical products
  • Outline requirements for periodic inventory of in-use, base-building hazardous chemical products (at least annually, or as procurement is revised)
  • Describe how to safely store chemical products in accordance with product Safety Data Sheets
  • Outline requirements for a continuous and proactive review process to ensure up-to-date Safety Data Sheets for all hazardous chemical products are always available to employees, must be performed within the last three (3) years
  • Describe how chemical products are to be labeled in accordance with WHMIS/GHS/HAZCOM
  • Requirements for the review and update of the Program (as products are changed and at least annually)

Documentation

  • Hazardous Chemical Management Program
  • Suggested Lead

    In-house

    Value

    • Chemicals that are potentially hazardous to human health are often necessary for building maintenance
    • Proper management of hazardous chemicals in the building is important in maintaining a safe indoor environment
    • Establish a hazardous chemical product management program to ensure proper chemical management protocols are used by all staff
    • Follow proper storage procedures, product labelling techniques, and train relevant building staff
    • Update the Hazardous chemical management program regularly to ensure it includes all hazardous chemicals at the building

    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.

    References

    None

    Adapted BB 3.0 Question

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