University of Georgia unveils innovative chemical tracking system

Contact: Ken Scott, 706/583-0449, kscott@esd.uga.edu; Jerry NeSmith, 706/542-5974, nesmithj@uga.edu
Feb 8, 2005, 14:37

Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia has developed, pilot-tested and now is implementing an innovative, Web-based system to track hazardous chemicals used in research and instructional programs. University officials say the new system, developed in conjunction with SIVCO, Inc., will be operational campus-wide in 2005. Other Georgia research universities are also planning to implement the system beginning in 2005.

Called Chematix™, the new system will enable authorized UGA personnel to compare prices and order chemicals, track shipping, monitor inventory, receive automatic notifications of hazardous chemical expiration dates, and arrange for chemical disposal using a password-protected desktop computer and commercial web browsers. The data is encrypted before transmission across secure networks. New capabilities include the ability to share surplus chemicals among laboratories and provide information to first responders about what chemicals are stored in any given building in the event of an emergency.

Chematix complies with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency documentation standards for chemical acquisition, fate and disposal and also adheres to federal cost-accounting standards for institutions that receive federal research funds.

Colleges and universities are among the nation’s biggest consumers – and disposers – of toxic substances, according to Ken Scott, UGA’s associate vice president for environmental safety. “For example, in an average week UGA generates approximately 2,000 pounds of chemical waste. The new system, which will be used in approximately 1,200 UGA laboratories, will be able to handle 1,000 users simultaneously,” Scott said.

Scott proposed developing the new system in 2001, a time when the EPA began imposing multimillion dollar fines on universities that failed to meet the federal government’s strict chemical disposal guidelines.

“It made us look at how we do business with chemicals,” said Scott, who spent 20 years at Texaco before coming to UGA. “The EPA mandated a system to control ordering, tracking and disposal.”

In developing the system, Scott, members of the UGA Laboratory Safety Committee and other campus officials developed a detailed list of specifications for the new system. The Georgia Technology Authority assisted in developing a technology-related request for proposals. Following a rigorous evaluation, SIVCO, Inc., was selected in January 2002 to help the university develop the tracking system. SIVCO has expertise in developing environmental and laboratory safety software using state-of-the-art computer technologies.

Maria Kuhn, program specialist with UGA’s Environmental Safety Division, and Jerry NeSmith, director of UGA’s Office of Research Services, worked closely with SIVCO programmers in developing, testing and revising the system.

“There’s nothing in the nation like this system,” said Scott, who has met and discussed Chematix with officials at other research universities, including the Texas Board of Regents, the University of New Mexico, the University of South Carolina, Carnegie Mellon University and Columbia University. In January, Georgia Tech began implementing the new system, which also is under consideration at Georgia State University, Georgia Southern University and Kennesaw State College.

For more information, visit Chematix at www.chematix.com and UGA’s Environmental Safety Division at www.esd.uga.edu.