Chemical Cleanout Toolkit
for Utah Schools
Auto Shop
Inventory
The Auto Shop Inventory Worksheet 
provides a laundry list of potentially hazardous products that may be found in your school’s Auto Shop. We tried to make this list comprehensive, so that anything you might find stored in your wood shop will be listed here.
As you investigate your stored products, find each one on the list, and fill in the columns to keep track of what you have, and what should be disposed of. Though we have tried our best to include any and all potentially hazardous products that might appear in school auto shops, we may have missed something that you have in stock. Since you have this Excel available for download below, please add rows at the appropriate alphabetical location to add your items.
Simultaneously with using your Inventory Worksheet as you investigate what you have in storage, you’ll want to have your Storage and Labeling Best Management Practices Checklist on hand. We don’t want you to have to go through your inventory twice, once to check off what you have and then again to make sure everything is properly labeled and appropriately stored. Anything you find that is marked in red on the Auto Shop Inventory Worksheet should best be immediately transferred to a safe holding area pending removal by a certified hazardous waste hauler. Use the Storage and Labeling Checklist and storage graphics provided this web site to make sure that the items you transfer to a holding area are clearly marked (assuming you know what they are in the first place), and kept apart from other hazardous substances with which they might react. Linked below you’ll find two documents that may help you with the transfer and hold procedure:
For those products you intend to keep, this Toolkit provides suggestions about how to organize chemicals for safety, but if you have another, equally safe, system in place, with just a few problems here and there, by all means use your own system. The important point is to make sure, as you conduct your inventory, that everything you want to keep is labeled and safely stored.
Note: Before starting the inventory:
- Ensure that all emergency supplies are available and ready to use.
- Use appropriate personal protective equipment (e.g. gloves, chemical splash goggles, lab coat, closed-toe shoes).
- Use extreme caution in handling all containers! Crystallized chemicals should NOT be moved. They are shock sensitive and can explode if not handled with extreme care.
- Inventory all chemicals, solvents, and hazardous substances a minimum of once a year. See #4 for recommended details to include in inventory. A copy of the inventory shall be kept on file in a location away from the areas where the substances are stored.
- Confirm that current MSDS are present for all poisonous, toxic, or hazardous substances.
- Identify each storage area by name. Storage areas can be segregated by:
- Physical location.
- Individual shelf/cupboard within location provided there is individual containment for spills.
- Include storage areas for open laboratory areas.
- Identify the chemicals contained within each identified storage area. For each container, record the following information if applicable:
- The full name of the material (already included on inventory lists in alphabetical order)
- The CAS number (add next to chemical name on inventory list)
- The purchase date or general age
- The expiration date (if available)
- The number of containers
- An estimate of the volume/amount of the substance
- Comments on the physical state of the container (good; fair; poor)
- Amount of chemical needed to retain for classroom use
- Amount of chemical needed to be disposed
- During inventory, label containers for disposal that are not in good condition, are close to, or beyond, the stated expiration date, or are not labeled and cannot be adequately identified. Ensure the record identifies these containers for disposal.
- Unacceptable conditions include deteriorated (e.g., corroded or bulging containers, broken caps) containers and container integrity issues (e.g., leaking or spilled materials).
- Primary original containers need to have a legible label.
- Secondary containers that are used for storage (e.g., squeeze bottles) must be labeled with the contents.
- During inventory, label containers as questionable that have chemicals spilled on the outside of the containers. Ensure that record identifies these containers as questionable.
- Identify for each container the appropriate compatibility designation.
- Inorganic acid
- Organic acid
- Inorganic base
- Flammable liquid (include glacial acetic acid)
- Flammable solid
- Corrosive
- Strong oxidizers
- Pyrophorics
- Water reactive
- Compressed Gas
- Solid
- Identify prohibited/very high hazard materials (in red on Utah inventory list included in toolkit). Physically label these containers for disposal. Ensure the record identifies these containers for disposal.
- Prohibited chemicals are chemicals that pose an inherent, immediate and potentially life threatening risk, injury or impairment due to toxicity or other chemical properties to the students, staff or other occupants of the school. These chemicals should be prohibited from use and/or storage at the school. The school should not purchase or accept donations of such chemicals.
- Identify restricted/high hazard materials (in purple on Utah inventory list included in toolkit) eliminate and substitute with alternatives if possible.
- Restricted chemicals are those chemicals that are restricted by use, and/or quantities. Restricted chemicals should be limited to instructor demonstration. Any restricted chemicals present in the school should be included in the school’s written emergency plan.
- Identify materials that are no longer used in the current curriculum. Physically label these containers for disposal and ensure that the record identifies these containers for disposal.
- Identify materials that have an excessive inventory. Physically label these containers as questionable and ensure the record identifies these containers as questionable.
- Identify any cases where incompatible chemicals (by hazard class) are stored together.
- Acids and bases are separated
- Flammable liquids away from corrosives (except acetic acid – store with flammables)
- Organic acids from inorganic acids (nitric from formic, acetic acid, and anhydrides)
- Strong oxidizers and pyrophorics away from flammables and corrosives
- Water reactive away from aqueous sources
- Provide a copy of the inventory to the school representative.
Sources: Kansas Dept. of Health & Environment: Waste Chemical Disposal Guidance for Schools Program; EPA’s Indian Country School Lab Hazard Program; ID DEQ Chemical Roundup; WY DE Chemical Inventory Procedures
Inventory Best Practices:
- Allow ample time to conduct the inventory and if possible, work in pairs.
- Designate other personnel to periodically check on the safety of the inventory staff.
- Notify the local fire department of the time and day of the inventory in order to expedite emergency response.
- Ensure the areas in which you are working are intrinsically safe. Is there adequate lighting and ventilation? Access to a phone, eyewash, and a safety shower?
- Wear appropriate personal protective equipment. This should include gloves, chemical splash goggles, a lab coat, and close-toed shoes.
- Ensure emergency telephone numbers are clearly posted near all available telephones.
- Review published safety guidelines for working around lab, chemicals.
- Review the school’s Chemical Hygiene Plan.
- Have a written response plan nearby in case of a spill or accident.
- Ensure easy access to spill clean up materials. Spill clean up materials should be compatible with the chemical spilled.
- Divide tasks. One person read the chemical information, the other person records. Be sure to pronounce the chemical correctly. The recorder should read the chemical name after it is logged to confirm it is correct.
- Evaluate the storage area before entering for site safety. Check or items that could cause accidents.
- Record the room number and the date on your record sheet. Number each shelf to identify where the chemicals are stored. Record the name of the chemical, size and type of container as well as the condition. Try not to disturb the chemicals and do not move if listed as potentially explosive.
- If the inventory is conducted over several days, mark where you stopped each day.
- Identify the contents of chemical kits. Older kits may contain unlabeled chemicals that need to be referenced from the manufacturer.
- If preserved specimens are present, record the preservative used.
- Remember to look everywhere. Examine all areas in each room including desks, drawers, refrigerators, closets, under the sink, and storage cabinets.
In an emergency:
Call 911 or the Utah State Hazardous Chemical Emergency Response Commission (SERC) (801-536-4123)
Utah State Hazardous Chemical Emergency Response Commission coordinates a 24-hour network of local emergency response professionals. The center coordinates dispatching state resources to hazardous material emergencies. In case of a chemical emergency, such as discovery of an explosive or unstable chemical or an unmanageable chemical spill, call 911 and SERC.
Sources: This inventory procedure was adapted from Idaho Chemical Roundup, Chem Info Net, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Flinn Scientific Catalog, and Montana Department of Environmental Quality, School Lab website. Additional information can be found on the Chem Info Net website http://cheminfonet.org, at the Main Department of Environmental Protection website http://maine.gov/dep/mercury/school.htm, the Flinn Scientific website http://www.flinnsci.com/Sections/Safety/labChemSafety.asp and http://www.mdeqschoollabs.com.
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