Integrated hazardous substance tracking and compliance

• US 5,726,884 A
• Filed: 05/02/1994
• Issued: 03/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alternative Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alternative Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Sturgeon, Douglas H., Sziklai, Anthony T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weinhardt, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Poinvil, Frantzy
• Application Number:
  US08/236,897
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 364/400, 364/406, 364/431.06, 364/401 R, 376/216, 376/244, 52/900, 379/40-45, 340/915, 340/500-501, 340/286.04
• US Class Current: 705/7.12
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2219/10 Environmental application, e.g. waste reduction, pollution control, compliance with environmental legislation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/845 Inventory and reporting systems for greenhouse gases [GHG]

Abstract

Apparatus that provides an integrated approach for all management activities for hazardous substances used or generated at a facility, including form generation and compliance with the reporting requirements. The apparatus includes eight functional groupings and a database schema or coordinator that integrates these groupings and allows them to share and exchange relevant information. The functional groupings include a hazardous materials index grouping (chemical profiles, waste profiles, Material Safety Data Sheets, etc.), a hazardous materials management grouping (MSDS generation, process definition, materials transfers, etc.), a human resource management grouping (training, exposure limits, etc.), a hazardous commitment management grouping (compliance requirements and deadlines), an emergency management grouping (planning for and response to unscheduled releases), and a facility management grouping that can be used by or for response to a regulatory agency. Optionally, a hazardous waste management grouping (waste accumulations, Hazardous Waste Manifests, etc.) or a hazardous permit management grouping (permit approvals and renewals, etc.), or both, may be combined with all or different combinations of the other functional groupings to form an operating system. Optionally, the hazardous materials index grouping plus the hazardous materials management grouping plus the emergency management grouping plus the database schema may be combined with one of the other five functional groupings to form an operating system. Optionally, the hazardous materials index grouping plus the emergency management grouping plus the database schema may be combined with one of the other six functional groupings to form an operating system. The facility management grouping may act as a stand-alone module or may be integrated and used with combinations of the other groupings.

Claims

1. Apparatus for monitoring and tracking handling of hazardous substances at a regulated facility to promote compliance with applicable laws governing such substances, the apparatus comprising:

Hazardous Materials Index data means for constructing and recording a Chemical Profile for pure chemicals and mixtures thereof and a Material Safety Data Sheet containing information on physical and chemical properties, health and safety hazards, handling procedures, and emergency response procedures, for a hazardous substance used or produced at the facility for which a Material Safety Data Sheet is required, and for maintaining a chemical location table containing an inventory of hazardous substances, including amounts and concentrations thereof and methods for handling such substances, that are present at a given time at each of a selected group of locations at a facility;

Hazardous Materials Management data means for receiving and recording information on arrival, storage and use of a hazardous substance at, and departure of a hazardous substance from, the facility, for determining whether a Material Safety Data Sheet exists for such substance and, if this Sheet is not yet available, for creating a commitment by the facility to acquire or prepare a Material Safety Data Sheet for such hazardous substance if such substance is received or produced at the facility, for tracking the movement and use of a hazardous substance at the facility, for maintaining and storing for at least one chemical process that occurs at the facility a process definition, including what mixtures, process by-products, waste by-products, chemical emissions and waste discharges are generated or consumed at at least one stage of such process, and for determining the amount of a hazardous substance stored at the facility at a given time;

Hazardous Permit Management data means for monitoring and recording applications, approvals, renewals and expirations of regulatory agency permits allowing the facility to store, use, emit or discharge specified hazardous substances, for tracking and recording facility chemical emissions and waste discharges and the results of detection and testing of specified hazardous substance emissions and discharges, for tracking and recording variations between actual emissions and discharges and permitted emissions and discharges, and for tracking and recording the results of source reduction measures, if any, implemented at the facility;

Human Resource Management data means for tracking and recording exposure of each worker at the facility to specified hazardous substances, for determining when, if at all, a worker has received a maximum permissible exposure to any of these specified hazardous substances at the facility, for tracking and recording any workplace control that is implemented to improve the health or safety of at least one employee at the facility, for tracking and recording reported work-related illnesses and injuries for at least one employee at the facility, and for tracking and recording work-related training received and to be received by each worker at the facility;

Hazardous Waste Management data means for tracking and recording selected waste management information concerning the facility, including production, accumulation, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste, for tracking and recording the changes, if any, in hazardous waste produced, based upon process modification, input material substitution, reformulation of an end product produced at the facility or modifications in inventory management implemented at the facility, for establishing and maintaining a Waste Profile on at least one hazardous substance that is produced as a by-product at the facility, for monitoring the length of time a hazardous waste has accumulated in a given waste container at the facility, for monitoring and recording the size, location, use, movement, treatment and disposal of a hazardous waste container at the facility, for creating a commitment, and recording completion of that commitment, to dispose of hazardous waste accumulated in a waste container when the length of time this waste has been accumulated in that container reaches a selected time interval, and for generating hazardous waste labels and Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifests to be used with a container containing hazardous waste that is to be disposed of away from the facility;

Hazardous Commitments Management data means for monitoring and recording hazardous substance compliance and reporting requirements, and the time requirements, if any, for such compliance, applicable to the facility, for advising the facility of safety inspections, examinations of safety equipment and equipment decontaminations to be performed periodically, and for monitoring creation of periodic hazardous substance reports for the facility;

Emergency Management data means (1) for identifying at least one person at a selected site with emergency responder training, and the level of emergency responder training of the person, required to respond to an unplanned release, or to a release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (2) for identifying equipment to be used to respond to an unplanned release, or release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (3) for identifying first response actions to be taken for at least one unplanned release, or to at least one release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (4) for tracking and reporting emergency response actions taken in response to any unplanned release, or release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance that actually occurs at the selected site, and for providing information on at least one of the following items;

(5) problematical chemical or physical reactions that may occur in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance, and actions taken to suppress at least one such problematical chemical or physical reaction;

(6) emergency treatment to be given to a person exposed to a hazardous substance in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(7) particular equipment that may be targeted in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(8) notification and evacuation procedures that are to be followed for an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance at the selected site;

(9) a mutual aid or coordinated response agreement, if any, and procedures for response at the selected site or at another site for an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(10) remedial, cleanup or decontamination procedures to be followed after an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance; and

(11) procedures to be followed for notification of at least one regulatory agency after an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance; and

a database means, connected to each of the seven data means, for integrating these seven data means and for facilitating exchange of information between at least one of the following pairs of data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Hazardous Materials Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Hazardous Permit Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Human Resource Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Hazardous Waste Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Hazardous Commitment Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Emergency Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Hazardous Permit Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Human Resource Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Hazardous Waste Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Hazardous Commitment Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Emergency Management data means;

Hazardous Permit Management data means and Hazardous Waste Management data means;

Hazardous Permit Management data means and Hazardous Commitment Management data means;

Hazardous Permit Management data means and Emergency Management data means;

Human Resource Management data means and Hazardous Waste Management data means;

Human Resource Management data means and Hazardous Commitment Management data means;

Human Resource Management data means and Emergency Management data means;

Hazardous Waste Management data means and Hazardous Commitment Management data means;

Hazardous Waste Management data means and Emergency Management data means; and

Hazardous Commitment Management data means and Emergency Management data means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said Hazardous Materials Index data means records emergency response actions to be taken, and equipment and personnel to be used, to respond to an unplanned release of a hazardous substance.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said Hazardous Materials Index data means tracks and records information to be used in generating regulatory compliance reports by said facility.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said Hazardous Materials Management data means tracks and records the results of source reduction measures, if any, implemented at the facility.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said Hazardous Waste Management data means tracks and records the results of source reduction measures, if any, implemented at the facility.

6. Apparatus for monitoring and tracking handling of hazardous substances at a regulated facility to promote compliance with applicable laws governing such substances, the apparatus comprising:

Hazardous Materials Index data means for constructing and recording a Chemical Profile for pure chemicals and mixtures thereof and a Material Safety Data Sheet containing information on physical and chemical properties, health and safety hazards, handling procedures, and emergency response procedures, for a hazardous substance used or produced at the facility for which a Material Safety Data Sheet is required, and for maintaining a chemical location table containing an inventory of hazardous substances, including amounts and concentrations thereof and methods for handling such substances, that are present at a given time at each of a selected group of locations at a facility;

Hazardous Materials Management data means for receiving and recording information on arrival, storage and use of a hazardous substance at, and departure of a hazardous substance from, the facility, for determining whether a Material Safety Data Sheet exists for such substance and, if this Sheet is not yet available, for creating a commitment by the facility to acquire or prepare a Material Safety Data Sheet for such hazardous substance if such substance is received or produced at the facility, for tracking the movement and use of a hazardous substance at the facility, for maintaining and storing for at least one chemical process that occurs at the facility a process definition, including what mixtures, process by-products, waste by-products, chemical emissions and waste discharges are generated or consumed at at least one stage of such process, and for determining the amount of a hazardous substance stored at the facility at a given time;

Human Resource Management data means for tracking and recording exposure of each worker at the facility to specified hazardous substances, for determining when, if at all, a worker has received a maximum permissible exposure to any of these specified hazardous substances at the facility, for tracking and recording any workplace control that is implemented to improve the health or safety of at least one employee at the facility, for tracking and recording reported work-related illnesses and injuries for at least one employee at the facility, and for tracking and recording work-related training received and to be received by each worker at the facility;

Hazardous Waste Management data means for tracking and recording selected waste management information concerning the facility, including production, accumulation, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste, for tracking and recording the changes, if any, in hazardous waste produced, based upon process modification, input material substitution, reformulation of an end product produced at the facility or modifications in inventory management implemented at the facility, for establishing and maintaining a Waste Profile on at least one hazardous substance that is produced as a by-product at the facility, for monitoring the length of time a hazardous waste has accumulated in a given waste container at the facility, for monitoring and recording the size, location, use, movement, treatment and disposal of a hazardous waste container at the facility, for creating a commitment, and recording completion of that commitment, to dispose of hazardous waste accumulated in a waste container when the length of time this waste has been accumulated in that container reaches a selected time interval, and for generating hazardous waste labels and Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifests to be used with a container containing hazardous waste that is to be disposed of away from the facility;

Hazardous Commitments Management data means for monitoring and recording hazardous substance compliance and reporting requirements, and the time requirements, if any, for such compliance, applicable to the facility, for advising the facility of safety inspections, examinations of safety equipment and equipment decontaminations to be performed periodically, and for monitoring creation of periodic hazardous substance reports for the facility;

Emergency Management data means (1) for identifying at least one person at a selected site with emergency responder training, and the level of emergency responder training of the person, required to respond to an unplanned release, or to a release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (2) for identifying equipment to be used to respond to an unplanned release, or release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (3) for identifying first response actions to be taken for at least one unplanned release, or to at least one release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (4) for tracking and reporting emergency response actions taken in response to any unplanned release, or release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance that actually occurs at the selected site, and for providing information on at least one of the following items;

(5) problematical chemical or physical reactions that may occur in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance, and actions taken to suppress at least one such problematical chemical or physical reaction;

(6) emergency treatment to be given to a person exposed to a hazardous substance in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(7) particular equipment that may be targeted in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(8) notification and evacuation procedures that are to be followed for an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance at the selected site;

(9) a mutual aid or coordinated response agreement, if any, and procedures for response at the selected site or at another site for an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(10) remedial, cleanup or decontamination procedures to be followed after an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance; and

(11) procedures to be followed for notification of at least one regulatory agency after an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance; and

a database means, connected to each of the six data means, for integrating these six data means and for facilitating exchange of information between at least one of the following pairs of data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Hazardous Materials Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Human Resource Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Hazardous Waste Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Hazardous Commitment Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Emergency Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Human Resource Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Hazardous Waste Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Hazardous Commitment Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Emergency Management data means;

Human Resource Management data means and Hazardous Waste Management data means;

Human Resource Management data means and Hazardous Commitment Management data means;

Human Resource Management data means and Emergency Management data means;

Hazardous Waste Management data means and Hazardous Commitment Management data means;

Hazardous Waste Management data means and Emergency Management data means; and

Hazardous Commitment Management data means and Emergency Management data means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said Hazardous Materials Index data means records emergency response actions to be taken, and equipment and personnel to be used, to respond to an unplanned release of a hazardous substance.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said Hazardous Materials Index data means tracks and records information to be used in generating regulatory compliance reports by said facility.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said Hazardous Materials Management data means tracks and records the results of source reduction measures, if any, implemented at the facility.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said Hazardous Waste Management data means tracks and records the results of source reduction measures, if any, implemented at the facility.

11. Apparatus for monitoring and tracking handling of hazardous substances at a regulated facility to promote compliance with applicable laws governing such substances, the apparatus comprising:

Hazardous Materials Index data means for constructing and recording a Chemical Profile for pure chemicals and mixtures thereof and a Material Safety Data Sheet containing information on physical and chemical properties, health and safety hazards, handling procedures, and emergency response procedures, for a hazardous substance used or produced at the facility for which a Material Safety Data Sheet is required, and for maintaining a chemical location table containing an inventory of hazardous substances, including amounts and concentrations thereof and methods for handling such substances, that are present at a given time at each of a selected group of locations at a facility;

Hazardous Materials Management data means for receiving and recording information on arrival, storage and use of a hazardous substance at, and departure of a hazardous substance from, the facility, for determining whether a Material Safety Data Sheet exists for such substance and, if this Sheet is not yet available, for creating a commitment by the facility to acquire or prepare a Material Safety Data Sheet for such hazardous substance if such substance is received or produced at the facility, for tracking the movement and use of a hazardous substance at the facility, for maintaining and storing for at least one chemical process that occurs at the facility a process definition, including what mixtures, process by-products, waste by-products, chemical emissions and waste discharges are generated or consumed at at least one stage of such process, and for determining the amount of a hazardous substance stored at the facility at a given time;

Hazardous Permit Management data means for monitoring and recording applications, approvals, renewals and expirations of regulatory agency permits allowing the facility to store, use, emit or discharge specified hazardous substances, for tracking and recording facility chemical emissions and waste discharges and the results of detection and testing of specified hazardous substance emissions and discharges, for tracking and recording variations between actual emissions and discharges and permitted emissions and discharges, and for tracking and recording the results of source reduction measures, if any, implemented at the facility;

Human Resource Management data means for tracking and recording exposure of each worker at the facility to specified hazardous substances, for determining when, if at all, a worker has received a maximum permissible exposure to any of these specified hazardous substances at the facility, for tracking and recording any workplace control that is implemented to improve the health or safety of at least one employee at the facility, for tracking and recording reported work-related illnesses and injuries for at least one employee at the facility, and for tracking and recording work-related training received and to be received by each worker at the facility;

Hazardous Commitments Management data means for monitoring and recording hazardous substance compliance and reporting requirements, and the time requirements, if any, for such compliance, applicable to the facility, for advising the facility of safety inspections, examinations of safety equipment and equipment decontaminations to be performed periodically, and for monitoring creation of periodic hazardous substance reports for the facility;

Emergency Management data means (1) for identifying at least one person at a selected site with emergency responder training, and the level of emergency responder training of the person, required to respond to an unplanned release, or to a release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (2) for identifying equipment to be used to respond to an unplanned release, or release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (3) for identifying first response actions to be taken for at least one unplanned release, or to at least one release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (4) for tracking and reporting emergency response actions taken in response to any unplanned release, or release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance that actually occurs at the selected site, and for providing information on at least one of the following items;

(5) problematical chemical or physical reactions that may occur in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance, and actions taken to suppress at least one such problematical chemical or physical reaction;

(6) emergency treatment to be given to a person exposed to a hazardous substance in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(7) particular equipment that may be targeted in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(8) notification and evacuation procedures that are to be followed for an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance at the selected site;

(9) a mutual aid or coordinated response agreement, if any, and procedures for response at the selected site or at another site for an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(10) remedial, cleanup or decontamination procedures to be followed after an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance; and

(11) procedures to be followed for notification of at least one regulatory agency after an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance; and

a database means, connected to each of the six data means, for integrating these six data means and for facilitating exchange of information between at least one of the following pairs of data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Hazardous Materials Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Hazardous Permit Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Human Resource Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Hazardous Commitment Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Emergency Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Hazardous Permit Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Human Resource Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Hazardous Commitment Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Emergency Management data means;

Hazardous Permit Management data means and Hazardous Commitment Management data means;

Hazardous Permit Management data means and Emergency Management data means;

Human Resource Management data means and Hazardous Commitment Management data means;

Human Resource Management data means and Emergency Management data means;

Hazardous Commitment Management data means and Emergency Management data means.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said Hazardous Materials Index data means records emergency response actions to be taken, and equipment and personnel to be used, to respond to an unplanned release of a hazardous substance.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said Hazardous Materials Index data means tracks and records information to be used in generating regulatory compliance reports by said facility.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said Hazardous Materials Management data means tracks and records the results of source reduction measures, if any, implemented at the facility.

15. Apparatus for monitoring and tracking handling of hazardous substances at a regulated facility to promote compliance with applicable laws governing such substances, the apparatus comprising:

Hazardous Materials Index data means for constructing and recording a Chemical Profile for pure chemicals and mixtures thereof and a Material Safety Data Sheet containing information on physical and chemical properties, health and safety hazards, handling procedures, and emergency response procedures, for a hazardous substance used or produced at the facility for which a Material Safety Data Sheet is required, and for maintaining a chemical location table containing an inventory of hazardous substances, including amounts and concentrations thereof and methods for handling such substances, that are present at a given time at each of a selected group of locations at a facility;

Hazardous Materials Management data means for receiving and recording information on arrival, storage and use of a hazardous substance at, and departure of a hazardous substance from, the facility, for determining whether a Material Safety Data Sheet exists for such substance and, if this Sheet is not yet available, for creating a commitment by the facility to acquire or prepare a Material Safety Data Sheet for such hazardous substance if such substance is received or produced at the facility, for tracking the movement and use of a hazardous substance at the facility, for maintaining and storing for at least one chemical process that occurs at the facility a process definition, including what mixtures, process by-products, waste by-products, chemical emissions and waste discharges are generated or consumed at at least one stage of such process, and for determining the amount of a hazardous substance stored at the facility at a given time;

Human Resource Management data means for tracking and recording exposure of each worker at the facility to specified hazardous substances, for determining when, if at all, a worker has received a maximum permissible exposure to any of these specified hazardous substances at the facility, for tracking and recording any workplace control that is implemented to improve the health or safety of at least one employee at the facility, for tracking and recording reported work-related illnesses and injuries for at least one employee at the facility, and for tracking and recording work-related training received and to be received by each worker at the facility;

Hazardous Commitments Management data means for monitoring and recording hazardous substance compliance and reporting requirements, and the time requirements, if any, for such compliance, applicable to the facility, for advising the facility of salary inspections, examinations of safety equipment and equipment decontaminations to be performed periodically, and for monitoring creation of periodic hazardous substance reports for the facility;

Emergency Management data means (1) for identifying at least one person at a selected site with emergency responder training, and the level of emergency responder training of the person, required to respond to an unplanned release, or to a release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (2) for identifying equipment to be used to respond to an unplanned release, or release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (3) for identifying first response actions to be taken for at least one unplanned release, or to at least one release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (4) for tracking and reporting emergency response actions taken in response to any unplanned release, or release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance that actually occurs at the selected site, and for providing information on at least one of the following items;

(5) problematical chemical or physical reactions that may occur in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance, and actions taken to suppress at least one such problematical chemical or physical reaction;

(6) emergency treatment to be given to a person exposed to a hazardous substance in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(7) particular equipment that may be targeted in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(8) notification and evacuation procedures that are to be followed for an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance at the selected site;

(9) a mutual aid or coordinated response agreement, if any, and procedures for response at the selected site or at another site for an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(10) remedial, cleanup or decontamination procedures to be followed after an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance; and

(11) procedures to be followed for notification of at least one regulatory agency after an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance; and

a database means, connected to each of the five data means, for integrating these five data means and for facilitating exchange of information between at least one of the following pairs of data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Hazardous Materials Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Human Resource Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Hazardous Commitment Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Emergency Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Human Resource Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Hazardous Commitment Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Emergency Management data means;

Human Resource Management data means and Hazardous Commitment Management data means;

Human Resource Management data means and Emergency Management data means; and

Hazardous Commitment Management data means and Emergency Management data means.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said Hazardous Materials Index data means records emergency response actions to be taken, and equipment and personnel to be used, to respond to an unplanned release of a hazardous substance.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said Hazardous Materials Index data means tracks and records information to be used in generating regulatory compliance reports by said facility.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said Hazardous Materials Management data means tracks and records the results of source reduction measures, if any, implemented at the facility.

19. Apparatus for monitoring and tracking handling of hazardous substances at a regulated facility to promote compliance with applicable laws governing such substances, the apparatus comprising:

Hazardous Materials Index data means for constructing and recording a Chemical Profile for pure chemicals and mixtures thereof and a Material Safety Data Sheet containing information on physical and chemical properties, health and safety hazards, handling procedures, and emergency response procedures, for a hazardous substance used or produced at the facility for which a Material Safety Data Sheet is required, and for maintaining a chemical location table containing an inventory of hazardous substances, including amounts and concentrations thereof and methods for handling such substances, that are present at a given time at each of a selected group of locations at a facility;

Hazardous Materials Management data means for receiving and recording information on arrival, storage and use of a hazardous substance at, and departure of a hazardous substance from, the facility, for determining whether a Material Safety Data Sheet exists for such substance and, if this Sheet is not yet available, for creating a commitment by the facility to acquire or prepare a Material Safety Data Sheet for such hazardous substance if such substance is received or produced at the facility, for tracking the movement and use of a hazardous substance at the facility, for maintaining and storing for at least one chemical process that occurs at the facility a process definition, including what mixtures, process by-products, waste by-products, chemical emissions and waste discharges are generated or consumed at at least one stage of such process, and for determining the amount of a hazardous substance stored at the facility at a given time;

Emergency Management data means (1) for identifying at least one person at a selected site with emergency responder training, and the level of emergency responder training of the person, required to respond to an unplanned release, or to a release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (2) for identifying equipment to be used to respond to an unplanned release, or release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (3) for identifying first response actions to be taken for at least one unplanned release, or to at least one release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (4) for tracking and reporting emergency response actions taken in response to any unplanned release, or release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance that actually occurs at the selected site, and for providing information on at least one of the following items;

(5) problematical chemical or physical reactions that may occur in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance, and actions taken to suppress at least one such problematical chemical or physical reaction;

(6) emergency treatment to be given to a person exposed to a hazardous substance in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(7) particular equipment that may be targeted in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(8) notification and evacuation procedures that are to be followed for an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance at the selected site;

(9) a mutual aid or coordinated response agreement, if any, and procedures for response at the selected site or at another site for an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(10) remedial, cleanup or decontamination procedures to be followed after an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance; and

(11) procedures to be followed for notification of at least one regulatory agency after an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance; and

a fourth data means drawn from the class consisting of the following four data means;

Hazardous Permit Management data means for monitoring and recording applications, approvals, renewals and expirations of regulatory agency permits allowing the facility to store, use, emit or discharge specified hazardous substances, for tracking and recording facility chemical emissions and waste discharges and the results of detection and testing of specified hazardous substance emissions and discharges, for tracking and recording variations between actual emissions and discharges and permitted emissions and discharges, and for tracking and recording the results of source reduction measures, if any, implemented at the facility;

Human Resource Management data means for tracking and recording exposure of each worker at the facility to specified hazardous substances, for determining when, if at all, a worker has received a maximum permissible exposure to any of these specified hazardous substances at the facility, for tracking and recording any workplace control that is implemented to improve the health or safety of at least one employee at the facility, for tracking and recording reported work-related illnesses and injuries for at least one employee at the facility, and for tracking and recording work-related training received and to be received by each worker at the facility;

Hazardous Waste Management data means for tracking and recording selected waste management information concerning the facility, including production, accumulation, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste, for tracking and recording the changes, if any, in hazardous waste produced, based upon process modification, input material substitution, reformulation of an end product produced at the facility or modifications in inventory management implemented at the facility, for establishing and maintaining a Waste Profile on at least one hazardous substance that is produced as a by-product at the facility, for monitoring the length of time a hazardous waste has accumulated in a given waste container at the facility, for monitoring and recording the size, location, use, movement, treatment and disposal of a hazardous waste container at the facility, for creating a commitment, and recording completion of that commitment, to dispose of hazardous waste accumulated in a waste container when the length of time this waste has been accumulated in that container reaches a selected time interval, and for generating hazardous waste labels and Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifests to be used with a container containing hazardous waste that is to be disposed of away from the facility; and

Hazardous Commitments Management data means for monitoring and recording hazardous substance compliance and reporting requirements, and the time requirements, if any, for such compliance, applicable to the facility, for advising the facility of safety inspections, examinations of safety equipment and equipment decontaminations to be performed periodically, and for monitoring creation of periodic hazardous substance reports for the facility; and

a database means, connected to each of the four data means, for integrating these four data means and for facilitating exchange of information between at least one of the following pairs of data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Hazardous Materials Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Emergency Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and the fourth data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Emergency Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and the fourth data means; and

Emergency Management data means and the fourth data means.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said Hazardous Materials Index data means records emergency response actions to be taken, and equipment and personnel to be used, to respond to an unplanned release of a hazardous substance.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said Hazardous Materials Index data means tracks and records information to be used in generating regulatory compliance reports by said facility.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said Hazardous Materials Management data means tracks and records the results of source reduction measures, if any, implemented at the facility.

23. Apparatus for monitoring and tracking handling of hazardous substances at a regulated facility to promote compliance with applicable laws governing such substances, the apparatus comprising:

Hazardous Materials Index data means for constructing and recording a Chemical Profile for pure chemicals and mixtures thereof and a Material Safety Data Sheet containing information on physical and chemical properties, health and safety hazards, handling procedures, and emergency response procedures, for a hazardous substance used or produced at the facility for which a Material Safety Data Sheet is required, and for maintaining a chemical location table containing an inventory of hazardous substances, including amounts and concentrations thereof and methods for handling such substances, that are present at a given time at each of a selected group of locations at a facility;

Emergency Management data means (1) for identifying at least one person at a selected site with emergency responder training, and the level of emergency responder training of the person, required to respond to an unplanned release, or to a release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (2) for identifying equipment to be used to respond to an unplanned release, or release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (3) for identifying first response actions to be taken for at least one unplanned release, or to at least one release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (4) for tracking and reporting emergency response actions taken in response to any unplanned release, or release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance that actually occurs at the selected site, and for providing information on at least one of the following items;

(5) problematical chemical or physical reactions that may occur in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance, and actions taken to suppress at least one such problematical chemical or physical reaction;

(6) emergency treatment to be given to a person exposed to a hazardous substance in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(7) particular equipment that may be targeted in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(8) notification and evacuation procedures that are to be followed for an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance at the selected site;

(9) a mutual aid or coordinated response agreement, if any, and procedures for response at the selected site or at another site for an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(10) remedial, cleanup or decontamination procedures to be followed after an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance; and

(11) procedures to be followed for notification of at least one regulatory agency after an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance; and

a third data means drawn from the class consisting of the following five data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means for receiving and recording information on arrival, storage and use of a hazardous substance at, and departure of a hazardous substance from, the facility, for determining whether a Material Safety Data Sheet exists for such substance and, if this Sheet is not yet available, for creating a commitment by the facility to acquire or prepare a Material Safety Data Sheet for such hazardous substance if such substance is received or produced at the facility, for tracking the movement and use of a hazardous substance at the facility, for maintaining and storing for at least one chemical process that occurs at the facility a process definition, including what mixtures, process by-products, waste by-products, chemical emissions and waste discharges are generated or consumed at at least one stage of such process, and for determining the amount of a hazardous substance stored at the facility at a given time;

Hazardous Permit Management data means for monitoring and recording applications, approvals, renewals and expirations of regulatory agency permits allowing the facility to store, use, emit or discharge specified hazardous substances, for tracking and recording facility chemical emissions and waste discharges and the results of detection and testing of specified hazardous substance emissions and discharges, for tracking and recording variations between actual emissions and discharges and permitted emissions and discharges, and for tracking and recording the results of source reduction measures, if any, implemented at the facility;

Human Resource Management data means for tracking and recording exposure of each worker at the facility to specified hazardous substances, for determining when, if at all, a worker has received a maximum permissible exposure to any of these specified hazardous substances at the facility, for tracking and recording any workplace control that is implemented to improve the health or safety of at least one employee at the facility, for tracking and recording reported work-related illnesses and injuries for at least one employee at the facility, and for tracking and recording work-related training received and to be received by each worker at the facility;

Hazardous Waste Management data means for tracking and recording selected waste management information concerning the facility, including production, accumulation, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste, for tracking and recording the changes, if any, in hazardous waste produced, based upon process modification, input material substitution, reformulation of an end product produced at the facility or modifications in inventory management implemented at the facility, for establishing and maintaining a Waste Profile on at least one hazardous substance that is produced as a by-product at the facility, for monitoring the length of time a hazardous waste has accumulated in a given waste container at the facility, for monitoring and recording the size, location, use, movement, treatment and disposal of a hazardous waste container at the facility, for creating a commitment, and recording completion of that commitment, to dispose of hazardous waste accumulated in a waste container when the length of time this waste has been accumulated in that container reaches a selected time interval, and for generating hazardous waste labels and Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifests to be used with a container containing hazardous waste that is to be disposed of away from the facility; and

Hazardous Commitments Management data means for monitoring and recording hazardous substance compliance and reporting requirements, and the time requirements, if any, for such compliance, applicable to the facility, for advising the facility of safety inspections, examinations of safety equipment and equipment decontaminations to be performed periodically, and for monitoring creation of periodic hazardous substance reports for the facility; and

a database means, connected to each of the three data means, for integrating these three data means and for facilitating exchange of information between at least one of the following pairs of data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Emergency Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and the third data means; and

Emergency Management data means and the third data means.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said Hazardous Materials Index data means records emergency response actions to be taken, and equipment and personnel to be used, to respond to an unplanned release of a hazardous substance.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said Hazardous Materials Index data means tracks and records information to be used in generating regulatory compliance reports by said facility.

26. Apparatus for monitoring and tracking handling of hazardous substances at a regulated facility to promote compliance with applicable laws governing such substances, the apparatus comprising:

Hazardous Materials Index data means for constructing and recording a Chemical Profile for pure chemicals and mixtures thereof and a Material Safety Data Sheet containing information on physical and chemical properties, health and safety hazards, handling procedures, and emergency response procedures, for a hazardous substance used or produced at the facility for which a Material Safety Data Sheet is required, and for maintaining a chemical location table containing an inventory of hazardous substances, including amounts and concentrations thereof and methods for handling such substances, that are present at a given time at each of a selected group of locations at a facility;

Hazardous Materials Management data means for receiving and recording information on arrival, storage and use of a hazardous substance at, and departure of a hazardous substance from, the facility, for determining whether a Material Safety Data Sheet exists for such substance and, if this Sheet is not yet available, for creating a commitment by the facility to acquire or prepare a Material Safety Data Sheet for such hazardous substance if such substance is received or produced at the facility, for tracking the movement and use of a hazardous substance at the facility, for maintaining and storing for at least one chemical process that occurs at the facility a process definition, including what mixtures, process by-products, waste by-products, chemical emissions and waste discharges are generated or consumed at at least one stage of such process, and for determining the amount of a hazardous substance stored at the facility at a given time;

Hazardous Permit Management data means for monitoring and recording applications, approvals, renewals and expirations of regulatory agency permits allowing the facility to store, use, emit or discharge specified hazardous substances, for tracking and recording facility chemical emissions and waste discharges and the results of detection and testing of specified hazardous substance emissions and discharges, for tracking and recording variations between actual emissions and discharges and permitted emissions and discharges, and for tracking and recording the results of source reduction measures, if any, implemented at the facility;

Human Resource Management data means for tracking and recording exposure of each worker at the facility to specified hazardous substances, for determining when, if at all, a worker has received a maximum permissible exposure to any of these specified hazardous substances at the facility, for tracking and recording any workplace control that is implemented to improve the health or safety of at least one employee at the facility, for tracking and recording reported work-related illnesses and injuries for at least one employee at the facility, and for tracking and recording work-related training received and to be received by each worker at the facility;

Hazardous Waste Management data means for tracking and recording selected waste management information concerning the facility, including production, accumulation, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste, for tracking and recording the changes, if any, in hazardous waste produced, based upon process modification, input material substitution, reformulation of an end product produced at the facility or modifications in inventory management implemented at the facility, for establishing and maintaining a Waste Profile on at least one hazardous substance that is produced as a by-product at the facility, for monitoring the length of time a hazardous waste has accumulated in a given waste container at the facility, for monitoring and recording the size, location, use, movement, treatment and disposal of a hazardous waste container at the facility, for creating a commitment, and recording completion of that commitment, to dispose of hazardous waste accumulated in a waste container when the length of time this waste has been accumulated in that container reaches a selected time interval, and for generating hazardous waste labels and Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifests to be used with a container containing hazardous waste that is to be disposed of away from the facility;

Hazardous Commitments Management data means for monitoring and recording hazardous substance compliance and reporting requirements, and the time requirements, if any, for such compliance, applicable to the facility, for advising the facility of safety inspections, examinations of safety equipment and equipment decontaminations to be performed periodically, and for monitoring creation of periodic hazardous substance reports for the facility;

Emergency Management data means (1) for identifying at least one person at a selected site with emergency responder training, and the level of emergency responder training of the person, required to respond to an unplanned release, or to a release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (2) for identifying equipment to be used to respond to an unplanned release, or release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (3) for identifying first response actions to be taken for at least one unplanned release, or to at least one release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (4) for tracking and reporting emergency response actions taken in response to any unplanned release, or release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance that actually occurs at the selected site, and for providing information on at least one of the tollowing items;

(5) problematical chemical or physical reactions that may occur in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance, and actions taken to suppress at least one such problematical chemical or physical reaction;

(6) emergency treatment to be given to a person exposed to a hazardous substance in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(7) particular equipment that may be targeted in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(8) notification and evacuation procedures that are to be followed for an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance at the selected site;

(9) a mutual aid or coordinated response agreement, if any, and procedures for response at the selected site or at another site for an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(10) remedial, cleanup or decontamination procedures to be followed after an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance; and

(11) procedures to be followed for notification of at least one regulatory agency after an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance; and

Facility Management data base means for recording and providing a searchable data base that includes information on at least one of the following categories;

(1) information on at least one emergency response plan to be followed, and equipment and personnel to be used, to respond to an unplanned release of a hazardous substance at a regulated facility;

(2) information on at least one emergency response action taken in response to any unplanned release of a hazardous substance when such an unplanned release actually occurred at a regulated facility;

(3) information on at least one application by a regulated facility for a permit to release, treat, store or dispose of a hazardous substance, including at least one application for which the permit has not yet been granted;

(4) information on at least one application for a permit by a regulated facility to use a hazardous substance in the business operations of that regulated facility, including at least one application for which a permit has not yet been granted;

(5) information on at least one transportation manifest for transporting a hazardous waste from a regulated facility to a selected site where the hazardous waste will be treated, stored or disposed of;

(6) information on the time during which at least one hazardous substance that is not part of inventory has been accumulated at a regulated facility;

(7) information of the training of at least one employee at a regulated facility for handling a hazardous substance;

(8) information of the training of at least one employee at a regulated facility for responding to an unplanned release of a hazardous substance at or adjacent to the regulated facility;

(9) information received from at least one regulatory report received from a regulated facility concerning use, handling, storage, accumulation, treatment or disposal of a hazardous substance that is associated with that facility;

(10) information on the compliance history of a regulated facility; and

(11) information on payment of permit fees by a regulated facility; and

a database means, connected to each of the eight data means, for integrating these eight data means and for facilitating exchange of information between at least one of the following pairs of data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Hazardous Materials Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Hazardous Permit Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Human Resource Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Hazardous Waste Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Hazardous Commitment Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Emergency Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Index data means and Facility Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Hazardous Permit management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Human Resource Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Hazardous Waste Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Hazardous Commitment Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Emergency Management data means;

Hazardous Materials Management data means and Facility Management data means;

Hazardous Permit Management data means and Hazardous Waste Management data means;

Hazardous Permit Management data means and Hazardous Commitment Management data means;

Hazardous Permit Management data means and Emergency Management data means;

Hazardous Permit Management data means and Facility Management data means;

Human Resource Management data means and Hazardous Waste Management data means;

Human Resource Management data means and Hazardous Commitment Management data means;

Human Resource Management data means and Emergency Management data means;

Human Resource Management data means and Facility Management data means;

Hazardous Waste Management data means and Hazardous Commitment Management data means;

Hazardous Waste Management data means and Emergency Management data means;

Hazardous Waste Management data means and Facility Management data means;

Hazardous Commitment Management data means and Facility Management data means; and

Emergency Management data means and Facility Management data means.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said Hazardous Materials Index data means records emergency response actions to be taken, and equipment and personnel to be used, to respond to an unplanned release of a hazardous substance.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said Hazardous Materials Index data means tracks and records information to be used in generating regulatory compliance reports by said facility.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said Hazardous Materials Management data means tracks and records the results of source reduction measures, if any, implemented at the facility.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said Hazardous Waste Management data means tracks and records the results of source reduction measures, if any, implemented at the facility.

31. Apparatus for accumulating information by a regulatory agency on handling of hazardous substances at a regulated facility that handles at least one such substance, to monitor compliance with applicable laws governing such substances, the apparatus comprising:

Emergency Management data means (1) for identifying at least one person at a selected site with emergency responder training, and the level of emergency responder training of the person, required to respond to an unplanned release, or to a release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (2) means for identifying equipment to be used to respond to an unplanned release, or release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (3) means for identifying first response actions to be taken for at least one unplanned release, or to at least one release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance, (4) means for tracking and reporting emergency response actions taken in response to any unplanned release, or release of an amount above a permitted amount, of a hazardous substance that actually occurs at the selected site, and for providing information on at least one of the following items;

(5) problematical chemical or physical reactions that may occur in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance, and actions taken to suppress at least one such problematical chemical or physical reaction;

(6) emergency treatment to be given to a person exposed to a hazardous substance in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(7) particular equipment that may be targeted in an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(8) notification and evacuation procedures that are to be followed for an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance at the selected site;

(9) a mutual aid or coordinated response agreement, if any, and procedures for response at the selected site or at another site for an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance;

(10) remedial, cleanup or decontamination procedures to be followed after an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance; and

(11) procedures to be followed for notification of at least one regulatory agency after an unplanned release, or in a release above a permitted amount, of at least one hazardous substance.