Improving access to hazardous substances data

Edited by the Manufacturingtalk editorial team Nov 6, 2003

Two enhanced software products extensive guidance on implementing and improving the health and safety management of hazardous chemicals in the workplace.

Two enhanced software products from Croner, the UK's leading supplier of business information, advice and support, offer extensive guidance on implementing and improving the health and safety management of hazardous chemicals in the workplace.

CHEM-BANK and EINECS Plus, part of Croner's SilverPlatter range of health and safety database products, are Croner's most comprehensive international guides to hazardous chemicals.

Society depends on the use of potentially dangerous chemical substances and occasionally accidents occur, causing a health and safety hazard to workers and the public.

With health and safety legislation tightening, such as corporate manslaughter, businesses must take increasing precautions to achieve best practice and update their health and safety policies and procedures.

Using the products, any organisation that uses, manufacturers, handles or transports chemicals can ensure that its procedures are fully compliant with current health and safety legislation.

CHEM-BANK and EINECS Plus also represent a valuable resource to academic institutions for research purposes.

Both are from Croner's SilverPlatter range of health and safety database products, which Croner recently acquired from Ovid Technologies.

Croner's enhanced SilverPlatter range offers up-to-date and extensive guides for the identification and handling of hazardous chemicals, vital to health and safety professionals.

These products form a ready reference source for health and safety professionals to access information on the classification, potential effects and emergency response procedures of hazardous substances they come across on a day-to-day basis.

As such, they are essential for formulating health and safety policies and safety data sheets.

The unique combination of information from multiple databases and user-friendly interface enables instant yet comprehensive advice when it is needed.

Neil Clements, Business Development Manager at Croner, said: "When it comes to handling, transporting and storing chemicals, and complying with chemically-related legislation, there are stringent health and safety regulations which organisations must follow.

Using our SilverPlatter products organisations can access key international information more easily than ever to ensure they are compliant." "The SilverPlatter product range is already well-respected in the health and safety industry.

Now under the Croner name, we have enhanced and updated the products to better meet the needs of our customers." CHEM-BANK is a collection of databases offering a single source of primary data on over 200,000 potentially hazardous chemicals.

Updated quarterly, it offers businesses the ability to aggregate information from authoritative sources through the ability to cross-search its 8 complimentary databases, including the internationally renowned RTECS (Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances) and HSDB (Hazardous Substances Data Bank).

EINECS Plus, updated twice a year, holds key data on all the chemicals from the European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances list in eight EC languages, and the ELINCS list (European List of Notified Chemical Substances) in 10 EC languages.

This is combined with classification and labelling requirements as prescribed by the European Commission Directive 67/548/EEC and all adaptations to technical progress thereof.

Also included are the EC Cosmetics and Waste Inventories in 10 EC languages.

EINECS Plus also includes full legislative summaries and notification of changes in EU legislation related to chemical substances, preparations and cosmetics.

Clements says: "Businesses that rely on sources such as the Internet for information on chemicals often have no means of knowing if the information is credible and valid.

CHEM-BANK is unique in that users are able to aggregate information from 8 authoritative databases in the user-friendly SilverPlatter format, with the assurance that the information is legitimate and up-to-date.

"EINECS Plus offers comprehensive chemical and compliance information from a variety of EC sources.

Both CHEM-BANK and EINECS Plus offer instant access to vital information, and importantly could prevent injury or death through incorrect labelling or mis-handling of chemicals in the workplace." CHEM-BANK and EINECS Plus are available now on annual subscription and can be accessed on CD-ROM, across networks and via the Internet.

CHEM-BANK is priced at GBP 1495/US $2332 for a single user, and EINECS Plus GBP 995/US $1552.