Accessibility statement

Ordering Chemicals

Ordering Chemicals

  • All chemicals are ordered via York E-Purchase procurement system.
  • Ordering chemicals is restricted within individual groups to authorised persons only who have received appropriate training.
  • All hazardous chemical substances need to be assessed and allocated to one of 3 hazardous categories before submitting the order for processing.  Material Safety Data Sheets, available from suppliers web sites, should be consulted before ordering to establish the correct hazard category.
  • University Chemical Hazard categories:

1. Chemicals - Non hazardous

  • Category allocated to chemical substances classified as non-hazardous by the chemical supplier
  • The label / safety data sheet contains no hazard warning words, symbols or hazard statements
  • There is no action or restriction when ordering via the York e Purchase (YEP) System

2. Chemicals - Hazardous

  • Category allocated to chemical substances classified as hazardous BUT ARE NOT ‘high hazard chemicals’ (see 3 below)
  • The label / safety data sheet includes hazardous words, symbols or hazard statements
  • There are no actions or restriction when ordering via YEP unless a chemical substance is of a higher hazardous classification.

3. Chemicals - Hazardous (High)

  • Category allocated to ‘high hazard’ chemical substances capable of causing serious harm if exposure occurred.
  • Category has one or more ‘high hazard’ statement codes on the label / safety data sheet
  • All chemical substances in this category require approval by the Supervisor / Group Leader (or nominated individual).
  • All work activities involving substances in this category require a specific written risk assessment and safe method of work.

4. Chemicals - Hazardous (Legally Controlled)

  • A fourth category of chemicals is reserved for chemicals that are ‘legally controlled’ and require approval / authorisation before ordering.
  • ‘Legally controlled’ substances include:
    • Drugs of abuse
    • Drugs precursors schedule 1
    • Explosives requiring license
    • Schedules 1, 2 (chemical weapons and precursors)
    • Schedule 3 (precursors)
  • Note: users of YEP from The Department of Biology are not required to assign chemicals to this category when ordering chemicals. The Department have other arrangements in place to identify and where appropriate, approve orders of chemicals that are ‘legally controlled’.

Ordering Biological Kits

Ordering Biological Kits

  • Biological Kits containing chemicals also need to be assessed and allocated to one of 3 hazardous categories, as described for ordering individual chemicals on YEP.
  • Material Safety Data Sheets, available from suppliers web sites, should be consulted before ordering to establish the correct hazard category.
  • Biological Kit Hazard Categories:

1.   Biological Kits- Non Hazardous

  • Category allocated to chemical substances classified as non-hazardous by the chemical supplier
  • The label / safety data sheet contains no hazard warning words, symbols or hazard statements
  • There is no action or restriction when ordering via the York e Purchase (YEP) System

2.   Biological Kits- Hazardous

  • Category allocated to chemical substances classified as hazardous BUT ARE NOT ‘high hazard chemicals’ (see 3 below)
  • The label / safety data sheet includes hazardous words, symbols or phases
  • There are no actions or restriction when ordering via YEP unless a chemical substance is of a higher hazardous classification.

3.   Biological Kits- Hazardous (High)

  • Category allocated to ‘high hazard’ chemical substances capable of causing serious harm if exposure occurred.
  • Category has one or more ‘high hazard’ words, symbols or phases displayed on the container
  • All chemical substances in this category require approval by the Group Leader (or nominated individual) and Departmental Health & Safety Advisor before ordering.
  • All work activities involving substances in this category require a specific written risk assessment and safe method of work.