Annual Chemical Stock Take

[Labbie]

Hi folks,

I have been very busily counting bottles and jars for the end of Term 1 stock take - read the CSIS which says "The relevant section of this Dangerous Goods Licence Declaration must be completed and signed by the principal at the end of term one each year."

Do people really do this??? I ask because my dear principal is in complete bewilderment about it all.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. BTW - found some nasties!!

Cheers,

Searchie

Sorry it has taken me this long to get around to answering this. When the CSIS first came out about 10 years ago. We all had to do a stocktake The first ever, and send it to the DET, to see if any one needed a license to carry chemicals, think only Hurlstone got one (A license I mean). This had to be done by term 1 2000. Principals were also trained in the CSIS along with DP's and head teachers. But as i say that was 11 years ago.

[Ilona]

Hi

I am the new temporary labby here. I did a chemical stocktake last year. A very slow process. Does anybody have a system or a template they use to do the stocktake? I have something set up on spreadsheet but am not happy the way it is set up. I also counted dropper bottles as well I hope I was meant to do that. Any ideas would be appreciated
Thanks

[mtg]

DEECD have an elaborate Chemical Register, everything even whiteout!
I dont have the original, only my stocktaked copy. And my computer is rubbish. OH&S lady gave it to the Assistant Prin who then gave it to me.
Might be on their www.

[Labbie]

Your stock take is only of your STOCK, not diluted solutions, or half opened solids, only the STOCK, which would be in your chem store or again perhaps it is called a STOCK room. Some private systems do this, but if you are a DEC school, which I think you are. The CSIS only requires us to do this stock take.

[The Search Engine]

Hi Labbie,
I did the whole stock take - solutions and all, as I didn't know any better.
I am happy with it though because I went through and tossed out a lot of unnecessary stuff.
Then in August we have a chemical clean up at the local tip and the Farm Assistant took away all my nasties.
Stock take should be much easier next year.

Cheers,

Searchie

[Ilona]

Thanks everyone for your help.

Hope to see you at St Marys.

Ilona

[estelle]

Does anyone know the best way to dispose of 20L plus of photographic developer chemicals that I came across during stocktake. The art teacher usually transports is in her car to the local council tip but is getting sick of doing it, not to mention that she shouldn't be doing it.
Someone from OH&S told her it could just be diluted well and disposed of down the sink. How do other schools deal with these chemicals?
Estelle

[RosalieM]

Check with a local photo place maybe? Ask what they do and maybe you could somehow get it to them?

[lizzieb]

Estelle, can you find out what chemical it is - maybe google it?

A few years ago at my other school we disposed of several 20L containers via the council clean-up. From memory I think it was acetic acid, so an option would be to dilute/pH adjust down the sink.

At the very least, your art teacher could request that the OHS committee organise disposal - have the GA use a school vehicle to take it to the tip for her.

[suesch]

I do chemical stocktake once a year at the end of term 2 leave it attached to the chem cabinets then have a quick look before placing the bulk order in august, but will prob do an equipment list at the end of the year now its quiet just my own copy.

[coxy]

Hi Rae,
I refer to your question way back in May 2011 - sorry I didn't get back to you earlier. Smaller containers of chemicals I can take to the local tip, and just put them in the correct chemical section (they have areas marked for Oxidising, Toxic, etc). So I can do that, or usually I see if I can dilute and sink it; otherwise I just leave the bottles to be disposed of in a box, until I hear of a pickup happening in the area. We don't have much waste.

[coxy]

Sorry, was disturbed and had to disconnect... I usually have a stocklist printed and left in my Chem Store, one in my desk drawer, and another on a shelf in my "everyday" chemical cupboard. Whenever I use the last of a particular chemical I mark it off the list so when I get to a computer I immediately update it with one less bottle. Usually, when I get time, I just grab the nearest list and go through the nearest cupboard - pick up the bottle of say, 500g, if it is more than half full, I write down that I have 250g, if it is less, then I write there is 50 or 100g., etc. In my chem store room, however, each bottle is a full one, so as soon as I take one full bottle of say, CuSO4, I know I need to replace it by end of year or term (depending on how often it is used). I have sample stocklist which you are welcome to look at - just email me at sue.cox2@det.nsw.edu.au and I can email it to you.

[mikah]

Hi coxy, would you mind if I had a look at your list?
we don't have any such thing and I have been instructed to start one

[coxy]

Here it is - hope the attachment works. Hope the list works for you - you can add or delete whatever you need - obviously.

Best way to contact me is by email, because I am lucky to get onto this site once a term!!

[rell]

Wow thanks coxy. Just what i needed to update my list

Rell

[rosaliemb]

What are sodium sticks please?
Rosalie (another one)

[rosaliemb]

the question is for Coxy. I found the item in your beautiful stock list. The colours are a great idea
Rosalie (another one)

[mikah]

Thank you for your prompt response and letting us access what is a lot of work.....still daunting though, going to be a busy week

[coxy]

Hi Rosalie,
The sodium sticks are just the way the sodium was here when I arrived: kind of long thick stilvery sticks under paraffin in a large, long tin with sealable lid. I always just called them sodium sticks because to me, sodium is salt that you put on your chips!!

Glad people are finding the list useful; I am a list person, so I have similar lists for my equipment stock, stationery, textbooks, glassware, etc.

[Narelle01]

I have just dug this thread out, as over the 'water cooler' this morning the principal said to me that she has to talk to me about the chemical register.
I do it at the end of term1 every year, and re-reading this has resassured me that I have done it well. My set out even looks similar to "Coxy"'s so i am on the right track...