Digital chemical inventory for Norwegian businesses

A stoffkartotek is a systematic overview of all hazardous chemicals used in the workplace, together with the corresponding safety data sheets (SDS). According to the stoffkartotek regulation, all businesses that use hazardous chemicals are required to have an up-to-date chemical inventory that is easily accessible to employees, safety representatives and the occupational health service.

The stoffkartotek regulation (Forskrift om stoffkartotek) is a Norwegian regulation based on the Working Environment Act. It requires all businesses that use, handle or store hazardous chemicals to maintain a chemical inventory with safety data sheets in Norwegian. The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority supervises compliance with the regulation.

All businesses that use, handle or store hazardous chemicals must have a chemical inventory. This includes industrial companies, workshops, construction sites, cleaning companies, hair salons, dental clinics, laboratories, and even office businesses that use cleaning products or other hazardous substances.

The requirements for a chemical inventory in Norway mean that: 1) All hazardous chemicals must have an up-to-date safety data sheet in Norwegian, 2) The chemical inventory must be easily accessible to all employees who may be exposed, 3) Safety representatives and the occupational health service must have access, 4) The chemical inventory must be kept up to date, 5) It must include risk assessment and information about protective equipment.

A physical chemical inventory consists of printed safety data sheets in binders. A digital chemical inventory is an electronic solution that provides automatic updates, search functionality, QR code access, mobile accessibility, and easier maintenance. The Labour Inspection Authority approves both, but recommends digital solutions for better accessibility and updating.

With a digital chemical inventory like KjemiBasen, you can generate unique QR codes for each chemical cabinet. When employees scan the QR code with their phone camera, they get immediate access to all safety data sheets for the products in that cabinet. This fulfils the requirement for easy accessibility and provides quick access to safety information in the event of an accident.

A safety data sheet (SDS), formerly called an HMS data sheet, is a standardised 16-section document containing important safety information about a chemical product. It includes hazard identification, composition, first aid, firefighting measures, personal protective equipment, handling instructions, physical and chemical properties, toxicological information, and waste disposal.

According to the regulations, safety data sheets must be kept for at least 10 years after the product was last used. For products containing carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic substances (CMR substances), the data sheets must be kept for 40 years. A digital chemical inventory handles this automatically.

Lack of a chemical inventory is a breach of the Working Environment Act. The Labour Inspection Authority can order the creation of a chemical inventory, impose coercive fines for non-compliance, and in serious cases fines may be issued. In workplace accidents where the lack of a chemical inventory contributes to the injury, it can also lead to liability for damages and prosecution.

KjemiBasen offers a digital chemical inventory from NOK 499 per month. The price includes an unlimited number of products, QR code generation, automatic lookup in a Norwegian data sheet database and full support. There is no binding period. Compared to the costs of non-compliance and manual maintenance, a digital chemical inventory is a good investment.