The EHS Assistant Chemical Inventory Overview
In January 2018, the EHS Office launched a six month pilot project to test the features and functionality of a streamlined chemical inventory online application call EHS Assistant. During the pilot more than 20 labs had their full chemical inventories uploaded to 'EHSA', then they tested how effective the platform is in meeting their chemical inventory user expectations and needs. Based on lab user feedback, a full implementation of the inventory kicked off in July 2018. Since then over 130 labs have adopted EHSA. A March 2019 user survey confirmed that users still endorse EHSA due to these factors:
- Fast system performance
- Easy to add a chemical container (all info entered on a single screen)
- Good inventory search capability
- Convenience of being able to upload groups of chemicals locally using an MIT template
- The ability to designate containers or entire inventories to 'share' within your lab's department(s)
- Kerberos user authentication (no need to memorize another password)
Labs that wish to have their well-formatted inventory data uploaded to EHSA Chemical Inventory should contact the EHS Office: call 617-452-3477 or send an email to: environment@mit.edu
For current users, to access the system: EHS Assistant Chemical Inventory
EHSA User Guides and Templates
After contacting EHS for a demonstration of EHSA we will work with you to determine the best way to migrate or build your chemical inventory in the platform. This includes setting up user access permissions and providing container barcode labels if your lab wishes to barcode its containers. For setting up and using your EHSA inventory, below are a set of guides and templates for using EHS Assistant.
Manuals/Trainings:
- Chemical Inventory Guidance: Brief tutorials on viewing your inventory, searching for items, adding, deleting, sharing and moving items
- Excel Spreadsheet Import and Export: Tutorial on using an excel template to upload partial or entire inventories at once as well as exporting an inventory to an excel sheet
- Locations Structure: Tutorial on how new locations (more specific than rooms) can be created and edited by users
- Chemical Inventory Verification (Reconciliation): Tutorial on using EHSA to run a verification of the accuracy of an inventory and how to update it using this function
If you have questions about using MIT's Chemical Inventory system, please contact EHS at ehs-it@mit.edu or by calling 617-452-3477 and we will get back to you promptly.