UNHCEMS^TM Frequently Asked Questions

What service does the Chemical Environmental Management System (CEMS) provide?
The CEMS software package is a complete solution for maintaining chemical inventories and compliancy. Click here to view the CEMS information site.
Where can I address comments or questions?
Comments, and questions can be made by clicking the Contact EH&S link at the top of most web pages in the CEMS application or by clicking here.
What kind of computer / software do I need to use the CEMS application?
Any modern web browser will work. The latest browsers such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape, and Mozilla on Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms are supported. Java-script and browser cookies must be enabled. Some versions of older browsers are known to display some problems.
What is a guest user?
The CEMS guest user is used as the default profile before a user authenticates with a valid password. Guests are limited to requesting accounts, viewing notices, and searching the MSDS and Fact Sheet archives.
What is a member user?
A CEMS member is a user who has an account in the system. Users who use the system must authenticate with their password before accessing member services. Members typically include anyone who works with chemicals. Click here to become a member.
What is a lab associate and a lab manager?
A lab manager is defined as someone who owns chemicals in the CEMS system. A lab associate is someone who is given access to a lab manager's inventory and the privileges inherited with owning an inventory. Lab managers can choose to limit this privilege by asking the EH&S CEMS administrator to classify their associates with write only access. Contact the EH&S CEMS administrator to add and remove lab associates.
What is an access group?
An access group is a group of CEMS members who choose to share viewing and/or owner access to each other's chemicals. Contact the EH&S CEMS administrator to create access groups.
What is the My Responsibilities list?
The responsibilities list is a list of memos, and links within the CEMS system to help the CEMS community maintain compliancy. Please contact EH&S if you feel that this list is inaccurate.
What does it mean when the system says that I am responsible for one or more signs?
The CEMS system maintains the door sign database. Members are listed as responsible for door signs in all rooms where they own chemicals, their lab manager has chemicals, or a member in their access-group has chemicals. Members responsible for signs make sure the sign is accurate.
I see that I can view my own hazardous waste history. Who else can view this potentially sensitive data?
EH&S, lab associates, and access groups that have been given owner privileges can view hazardous waste data.
What is a product number?
The product number is a manufacturer assigned alphanumeric identifier. Manufacturers tend to add the size of the container after the true product number. This is not part of the product number in CEMS. Usually it is the first sequence of alphanumerics before a dash. The Product Number is also commonly referred to as a product ID, catalog number, or catalog ID.
What is a CAS number?
The Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) number is a unique numeric identifier for chemicals. It has no chemical significance, but can be used to find a wealth of information about a chemical. More information about CAS numbers can be found at http://www.cas.org.
What are wildcards and how do I use them?
The wildcard symbol represented as a '*' matches 0 or more characters in any alphanumeric field in the CEMS system. For example, if you are looking for all containers that contain alcohol in the chemical name you would type *alcohol* for the chemical name field on the 'Search Inventory' page. This would then return results such as 2-Bromobenzyl Alcohol 99%, 2-Iodobenzyl Alcohol 99%, and 2-Methylbenzyl Alcohol 98%.
What is a fuzzy search?
The fuzzy search mechanism provides a way to match text that appears as a substring of another text string. For example, the search text acetone only matches chemicals with the exact name of acetone. If the fuzzy search check box is enabled the search form will also return matches such as 1,1,1-Trifluoroacetone. Wildcards are more powerful text expression symbols that also provide this functionality.

What is an NFPA rating?
NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency) specifies a system for identifying the hazards associated with materials. The symbol consists of four numbers or letters arranged in a diamond shape. The table below describes what each part of the diamond represents.

Health (Blue)

4 Danger May be fatal on short exposure. Specialized protective equipment required

3 Warning Corrosive or toxic. Avoid skin contact or inhalation

2 Warning May be harmful if inhaled or absorbed

1 Caution May be irritating

0 No unusual hazard

Flammability (Red)

4 Danger Flammable gas or extremely flammable liquid

3 Warning Flammable liquid flash point below 100° F

2 Caution Combustible liquid flash point of 100° to 200° F

1 Combustible if heated

0 Not combustible

Reactivity (Yellow)

4 Danger Explosive material at room temperature

3 Danger May be explosive if shocked, heated under confinement or mixed with water

2 Warning Unstable or may react violently if mixed with water

1 Caution May react if heated or mixed with water but not violently

0 Stable Not reactive when mixed with water

Special Notice Key (White)

W Water Reactive

OX Oxidizing Agent

How does the system decide who can edit various properties of containers?
EH&S, associates, and access groups of the owner that have been given owner privileges can edit properties of an owner's containers.
Who else can see containers in my inventory that I have hidden?
EH&S, emergency response users, the owner, lab associates of the owner, and access group members of the owner can see inventory that is hidden.
What if I need a chemical that is not on the surplus list but is in the inventory?
It is common that members will want only a small amount of a certain chemical. Rather than buying a new container the inventory search is an invaluable tool to finding existing chemicals within the CEMS community. Chemical owners are often very willing to share small amounts of a chemical they have in their inventory, especially when the container is older.
What should I do if I notice that information about a container is wrong?
Chemical owners, associates, and access group members with owner access privileges can change many container properties on the container details screen. These include properties such as product number, manufacturer, owner, location, date acquired, last evaluation last refill date, quantity remaining, memo, and whether the container is open. Some properties such as the chemical name, CAS number, and shelf life may only be changed by EH&S because this type of modification can affect more than just one container.
What does it mean when a container is in transition?
A container is labeled as being in transition when the container is not found in the room it was assigned to. Most often this displacement is temporary. The container will automatically be defined if it is rescanned during a reevaluation, or is transferred.
What does it mean when a container is marked as empty?
Containers that are empty, or are disposed of should be marked empty in the container details screen. Containers marked empty do not show up in searches. They only remain accessible by searching for the barcode on the Search Inventory screen.
I updated some information on the container details page, but the system did not save my changes. What I am doing wrong?
When making changes to the properties of a container make sure you click 'Save Changes' before closing the screen.
What is the memo field used for?
The memo field can contain any textual information that you want associated with a container.
Do I have to keep track of the quantity remaining?
No.
What should I do when I need to transfer all or part of my inventory from one location to another, or to a diferent owner?
Use the transfer container module. Click here for more information.

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