We at Safetec are very pleased and proud to become affiliate members of the VPPPA. Some of you we know already, and the rest we look forward to meeting. We respect and admire your commitment to become leaders in safety and to be seen as examples of what it looks like when safety is done right.

Safetec is committed to the same goal. Safetec is a Software as a Service (SaaS) organization providing world-class MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) and chemical management solutions and services to medium and large-sized organizations. But, rather than turning this email into an advertisement, we offer it as an invitation.

Please visit our chemical compliance website and see for yourself what Safetec has to offer your organization in regards to MSDS and chemical management.

View previous quarterly MSDS newsletters.

Download our white paper on Software as a Service as an EHS solution.

View our 3 Minute Movie.

Join us at these Chemical Compliance events.
We look forward to hearing from you and meeting you.

Best regards,

Jim Frohlich

Labels: chemical compliance, chemical management, material safety data sheets, MSDS, vpppa

The next release of CCM v8 includes a new navigation panel called “Related Links.” This panel contains a static list of page links commonly used in conjunction with the currently visible page.

The link panel is prominently placed on select search and detail pages. This navigation improvement benefits the user by allowing them to quickly navigate a particular module without returning to the main menu.

As well as being a pleasant visual enhancement to the web application, both new and advanced users will be sure to find this feature a tremendous time saver.

Labels: chemical compliance manager

WASHINGTON -- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently released its annual enforcement statistics, confirming that the agency's enforcement programs are producing positive results for the benefit of American workers.

In FY 2007, OSHA conducted 39,324 total inspections, a 4.3 percent increase over its stated goal of 37,700. Total violations of OSHA's standards and regulations were 88,846, a 6 percent increase from Fiscal Year (FY) 2006. The agency cited 67,176 serious violations, a 9 percent increase from the previous year and a more than 12 percent increase over the past four years. The number of cited repeat violations also rose from 2,551 in FY 2006 to 2,714 in FY 2007.

''The fact that OSHA surpassed its inspection goal for FY 2007 proves our enforcement commitment remains strong,'' said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. ''The significant increase in citations for serious and repeat violations documents OSHA's focus on identifying and eliminating severe hazards in the workplace.''

Fatality and injury and illness rates have continued to decline to record lows. The injury and illness incidence rate of 4.4 per 100 employees for calendar year (CY) 2006 was the lowest that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has ever recorded. Workplace fatality rates hit an all-time low in CY 2006 with 3.9 fatalities per 100,000 employees.

OSHA's results show that a strong, fair and effective enforcement program, along with outreach to employees and employers and partnerships and cooperative programs, add value to the workplace for both employers and employees by reducing injuries, illnesses and fatalities.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to help protect the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit OSHA

Labels: chemical compliance, citations, osha

The Safetec regulation database now includes the finalized version of the Department of Homeland Security’s Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards - Chemicals of Interest list. By including this list, Safetec makes it possible for clients to verify if they have any chemicals on that list.

In addition to loading the chemical list into the database, Safetec has also captured all of the attributes associated to each chemical. The data has been transposed from the original format (which is PDF) to Excel.

All are welcome to pass the DHS CHemicals os Interest List on to any interested party.

This list contains chemicals that, if possessed by a facility in a specified quantity, trigger a requirement to complete and submit an online consequence assessment tool called a Top-Screen.

The DHS identified these chemicals in the specific amounts for preliminary screening based on their potential to create significant human life or health consequences.

Using the information gathered through the Top-Screen, the DHS will be better able to make a preliminary determination as to whether a facility presents a high level of security risk and whether it will be required to comply with the substantive requirements of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS)


For more information on the chemical list or the Top-Screen click here

Labels: CFATS, chemicals of interest, CSAT, dhs, Top-Screen

Every business needs guidance and what would the business world be without attorneys? We wanted to go with the best so we are proud to announce that we have chosen AterWynne LLP as Safetec's legal partner.

“Safetec is pleased to announce its decision to partner with AterWynne LLP for legal counsel. AterWynne is well known for its work with both emerging and established software and technology businesses, and the firm also offers a highly skilled environmental practice. We believe this is a perfect fit to support Safetec’s needs as we grow our presence in the chemical management and compliance market,” said Jim Frohlich, Safetec CEO.

AterWynne is known for its strong practice among technology companies in the Pacific Northwest and California. Six AterWynne partners have been included in The Best Lawyers in America 2007, a national referral guide for the legal profession.

Labels: aterwynne, chemical management

To assist us in managing Safetec's current and predicted growth, we are now partnering with KPMG LLP for accounting and tax advising services.

“Safetec is on a rapid growth path. We expect to continue to double in size and will soon enter directly into international markets. KPMG has the experience and breadth of services to be a key partner in helping us achieve our ambitious goals,” said Dave Bundy, Safetec CFO.

KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm, is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International. KPMG International’s member firms have 113,000 professionals, including more than 6,800 partners, in 148 countries. They are recognized as the leading accounting and tax services firm in the Portland/Vancouver market for software and technology companies.

Labels: KPMG, Safetec News

We are very proud to announce that version 8.1 of our popular Chemical Compliance Manager (CCM) software has gone into production!

The new version of CCM boasts an innovative approach to its current functionalities. This includes an even higher level of configurability, which has been a hallmark of Safetec’s technology. It also features a new internationalization component and improved user interface characteristics.

“This is an important milestone in Safetec's history,” said Paul Burkett, Chief Technology Officer. “This new generation of software will place Safetec far ahead of all of our competitors in the MSDS and Material Management industry.”

Labels: chemical compliance, GHS, internationalization, reach

The Chemical Security Assessment Tool (CSAT) is the Department of Homeland Security's system for collecting and analyzing key data from chemical facilities to:

• Register for CSAT


• Identify facilities that present a high level of risk


• Support the preliminary and final tiering decisions for individual high-risk facilities


• Assess a facility’s security vulnerabilities


• Evaluate a facility’s security plan to address vulnerabilities and meet risk-based performance standards

The Chemical Security Assessment Tool comprises four secure, web-based tools:

• Facility Registration Questionnaire


• Consequence screening questionnaire (Top-Screen)


• Security Vulnerability Assessment (SVA) tool


• Site Security Plan (SSP) template

After registering for CSAT, facilities are provided access to the Top Screen, which enables the Department to determine if they are a high risk chemical facility covered by the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Interim Final Rule (CFATS). For facilities that are determined to be high risk, other tools, specifically the SVA and SPP, are made available to satisfy additional CFATS requirements.
Register to Access CSAT
To complete and submit a Top Screen, required by the Chemical Facility Anti-terrorism Standards 6 CFR 27, please register for access to the Chemical Security Assessment Tool (CSAT).

• CSAT User Registration User Guide (PDF, 45 pages - 903 KB)


• CSAT User Change Request Guide (PDF, 26 pages - 686 KB)

CSAT Top-Screen Survey
Any facility that manufactured, used, stored or distributed certain chemicals above a specified quantity must complete and submit a CSAT Top-Screen.
The proposed Appendix A Chemicals of Interest List is available. The Department may also notify facilities – either directly or through a Federal Register notice – that they need to complete and submit a CSAT Top-Screen.

• CSAT Top-Screen Questions (PDF, 79 pages - 1.1 MB) List of questions provided to assist chemical facility owners and operators in assembling the information needed to complete the secure web-based CSAT application


• CSAT Top Screen User Manual (PDF, 71pages - 1.5 MB)

Once a Top Screen survey has been completed and submitted, it cannot be recalled and edited.
Please enter Top Screen data carefully and proofread entries before submitting. Your submitter should keep a copy of the Top Screen for future reference.
If you need to resubmit your Top Screen, please contact the CSAT Help Desk at 866-323-2957 or csat@dhs.gov

Need Additional Help?


You have two sources of help if you have any questions

• You may access the CSAT Frequently Asked Questions website


• You may call the CSAT Helpline at 866-323-2957 from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday-Friday

Labels: chemicals of interest, CSAT, dhs

We are going to review an often overlooked feature that can be highly beneficial when working with and analyzing your MSDS and chemical data. This feature is Export to Excel, and it’s available in Chemical Compliance Manager Version 7 and Version 8.


In version 7, this option is available for the MSDS Search Results page as well as many of the other web pages that display full lists of records such as the Regulation List, Chemical List and MSDS Approval Queue. Also, many of the CCM 7 reports are in a format called “Data Grids”. In this type of report, the data is displayed in a grid or table directly in a web page (in HTML format). All data grid reports have the Export to Excel option enabled.


To export a list of records in version 7, first locate the left-side panel. Within the panel, find the “Standard Options” group of menu options. Under Standard Options, find the “Export Options” menu item. Instead of clicking on this item, hover over it with the pointer icon. This will cause another menu to pop up with an additional set of options. Click on the “Export To Excel” option.


You may receive a message asking if you want to Open or Save the file. Either option works fine, but the Open option will immediately launch Microsoft Excel and display your data in a new spreadsheet. Now that you’re data is in Excel, you can use the full power of Excel to manipulate your data including sorting, filtering, graphing, copying, etc. You can save the results of your changes to a file on your local hard disk when you’re finished.


In version 8, Safetec makes the Export functionality even easier to use. Almost every list of records in CCM V8 includes an Export to Excel button directly above each list. It’s easy to recognize since the button includes the familiar green Microsoft Excel icon within it. In V8, even small tables / grids within other pages can be exported to Excel! This includes such item as facilities and chemical constituents associated to materials / MSDSs.


Not seeing the Export to Excel feature on your CCM web site? The feature may not be turned on. Please contact your Safetec representative and someone will be glad to fix this for you. It’s a complimentary option included for all Safetec customers. Concerned about security and the ease with which this data can be retrieved by your employees? Safetec can just as easily turn this feature off for you.


If you have any questions or comments about this article or technical questions about any of Safetec products, please contact me at paulb@safetec.net


Paul Burkett, CTO

Labels: chemical approval, msds approval, workflow

We completed the relocation of our server systems to the new collocation facility, SunGard, in early June and have experienced a very noticeable increase to system performance. This primary production complex now includes three load balanced IIS servers, two clustered redundant SQL servers, and two mirrored file servers with a fully redundant firewall and switch architecture. SunGard provides advanced monitoring to validate that all of the servers are not only running, but that actual application processes responsible to “serve up” the Safetec application are operational. We now exceed our previous systems availability of a 99.95% service level, and our customers are experiencing this in terms of better system responsiveness and throughput.

Safetec’s development team continued to advance Chemical Compliance Manager (CCM) v8, with a completely redesigned Chemical Inventory Module released into production in June. This redesign was based on several years of working closely with Safetec’s chemical inventory customers, such as Cooper Standard Automotive, Con Edison and McWane. The primary focus was usability, additional reporting options plus the ability to include purchased, received and usage data. This additional data extends CCM’s reporting capabilities to include SARA 313 / Toxic Release Inventory reporting which has been a highly requested feature from our customers.

Labels: chemical compliance, chemical inventory, Safetec News