Biosafety Officer:

1. Make the inventory of hazardous chemicals.
2. Collect the MSDS Sheet for each chemical (often included with a new shipment or downloadable through the Internet). The MSDS Sheets provide information on the hazards/risks and necessary personal protective measures that can be used in the next step.
3. Take a new folder and name this "MSDS Sheets". Store all the MSDS Sheets in alphabetical order in this folder.
4. Explain in a weekly staff meeting what MSDS Sheets are, how they are used, and where they can be found.
5. Record for each chemical the following parameters:
   • Name
   • Nr. of units
   • Type of unit (e.g. "glass-bottle")
   • Quantity per unit (volume or weight)
   • Expiry date per unit
   • Storage location
   • Hazards/risks (e.g. "flammable" or "corrosive")
   • Necessary personal protective measures
   • Availability of MSDS Sheet (yes/no)
   • Manufacturer
   • Contact details of the manufacturer
   • Use the template Generic Hazardous Material Register provided in the right-hand column.

   This works best if you make a standard form which you can print multiple times and on which you can record all these parameters for every chemical.

6. Take a new folder and call this "Hazardous Material Register".
7. Keep the register up-to-date by:
   • Updating the inventory every quarter (check if all the data in the register for each material is still correct)
   • All the orders for new hazardous chemicals must go via the Biosafety Officer.

Laboratory manager:

1. Explain to staff members that all procurement orders for hazardous materials must be notified to the Biosafety Officer so that he/she can update the Hazardous Material Register.