Monthly Archives: July 2013

Advice on Approaching Global Regulatory Compliance

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With the spotlight shining brightly on Environmental H&S compliance, companies are challenged with finding effective ways to address the complexities and intricacies of EH&S compliance management. Not only do these challenges stem from a constantly-changing regulatory landscape, but also from a scarcity of newcomers to the EH&S field, and pressure on EH&S departments to manage increased responsibility with fewer resources.

softwareAddressing these issues requires broad and deep domain expertise—expertise that doesn’t always exist within the company. And if it does, this expertise is probably best utilized by driving the company’s overall compliance strategy, not bogged down with paperwork or the administrative burdens associated with maintaining compliance. Visit us at www.lycos.ltd.uk for more information.

Does your company need a comprehensive one-stop solution for content, tools and services to enable ou to take effective leadership and control of their product stewardship and EH&S compliance activities.

Manufacturers and distributors of all sizes increasingly face challenges that result from globalization in the marketplace and changing international regulatory initiatives. In today’s environment, merely producing an MSDS / SDS is not enough. Quality, accuracy and currency are critical components to fulfilling the original intentions for requiring documentation in the first place. This has a direct effect on the company’s ability to efficiently and effectively produce and maintain currency of MSDSs / SDSs, labels and hazard communication documents for their products. Effective, compliant and up-to-date documents—especially MSDS software / SDSs—are not only a global requirement, but serve as the critical centerpiece for enabling effective product stewardship practices throughout the product’s lifecycle.

How you approach this challenge will vary from company to company.
You may be in a position where your company has limited resources and needs to fully outsource MSDS / SDS authoring activities?
You may need additional support during the inevitable ebb and flow of workload?
Or do you simply need MSDS / SDS software to support your own staff?

The Benefits of Employing Authoring or Co-Authoring Services

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Keeping up with the timely creation and distribution of compliant MSDSs and label documents is always a challenge. First off theres budget cuts, reduced or reallocated resources, a merger or acquisition, lack of regulatory standardization, GHS, REACH, and stricter global enforcement.

Add in the global business worlds increasing emphasis and scrutiny on quality, accuracy and currency and the situation becomes even more difficult and burdensome. There are however, some interesting bits of software being developed for android and iphone – see http://download.cnet.com/

Authoring will need to include the formatting of  MSDSs / SDSs to be compliant with ANSI, GHS, REACH, and all of the major global requirements such as Japan, EU, USA and Canada, producing compliant documents that meet the needs of customers’ most complex requirements, including:

  • Meeting ingredient and hazard classification disclosure regulations in all appropriate countries
  • Multiple-language MSDSs / SDSs, including double-byte characters
  • Providing toxicological and eco-toxicological evaluations and determination, including hazard classification, labeling and workplace exposure limit settings
  • Providing domestic and international transportation determination including air, water and land
  • Authoring Exposure Scenarios for pure substance products as well as for individual components in a mixture

The Co-Authoring Concept

With Co-Authoring Services, you and your provider will collaborate to author and produce (M)SDSs from your authoring system and follow your corporate authoring guidelines and a collaboratively developed formal review and approval process that results in the most efficient and cost-effective solutio.

In short, choosing an Authoring/Co-Authoring Scenario can help you and your company in many ways:

  • Reduced cost structure within EH&S (Environmental Health & Safety) and other functions within the company
  • Improved turn around time based upon demand
  • Quick workload adjustments as needed
  • Freed up internal resources to perform other work responsibilities
  • Productive collaboration with sharing of experience, knowledge, and skills across professional staff
  • Improved global compliance resulting in potentially reduced liability
  • Reduced need for deployment of internal resources to support authoring staff
  • Regulatory expertise maintained in-house

Further information on REACH and how it affects you.

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Under REACH, not all chemicals are treated the same way. The data required for registration depends on the quantity produced or imported, (> or < 1 tonne per year). The most hazardous chemicals are considered differently and will be classified as “Substances of Very High Concern” (SVHCs). These will include those that are toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, reproductive toxins and harmful to the environment.

These may need to be “authorised” before they can be used and authorisation will not be given if there are safer alternatives or if the substance cannot be safely controlled.

REACH includes metals and alloys, but not polymer plastics (although any residual monomer and any additives contained within them may need to be registered).

So what should you do now?

As all commercial users of chemicals are be affected by REACH, it is recommended that a strategy is defined and followed. This should start now and a perfect place to get help is with a company specialising in MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) software.

Most manufacturers use chemicals and preparations of one type or another.  As a starting point, manufacturers should audit their own business and production processes to answer the following questions:

* Do you manufacture or import any substances from outside the EU in quantities of 1 tonne or more per year?
* Do you import articles from outside the EU that contain 1 tonne or more of an intentionally released substance?
If you answered yes to either of these questions then these chemicals require registration.

Some more questions:
Do any of your products contain SVHCs?  – If the answer is yes, you will need to provide information to your customers.

Do any of the chemicals, preparations or materials you use contain a substance likely to be classified as a SVHC? – If the answer is yes, then there is a risk that this may be withdrawn from the market without warning.

Therefore it is best to avoid the use of materials containing SVHCs in new products unless there is no alternative.  Additionally, SVHCs may not be allowed in products, even in small quantities, after dates that will be specified unless they have been authorised. Users as well as manufacturers and importers can request authorisation but should seek professional advice first.

The next step is to contact your materials suppliers to ask them following questions:
Can your suppliers confirm that REACH will not affect the supply of materials that you currently use? It is likely that they will not be able to confirm this but your question will encourage them to find out what plans their suppliers have and warn you of withdrawals as soon as possible.

Do your suppliers require information on how you use their products? If you use chemicals in an unusual way, you may want to provide details. Remember that if your use is not included in the exposure scenario that is written by the registrant, you cannot continue to use it in this way unless you submit your own chemical safety report to the ECHA.

Have they provided an up-to-date copy of the MSDS data sheet and do they have processes to automatically update you if the content changes?  This facility for automatic updating of the MSDS can save massive time and expense consequences to your supply stream.

You should also be prepared to answer questions from your customers who may want information on your plans or about chemicals present in your products.

Considering the use of an MSDS software provider? …….

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A material safety data sheet (MSDS), safety data sheet (SDS), or product safety data sheet (PSDS) is an important component of product stewardship and occupational safety and health. It is intended to provide workers and emergency personnel with procedures for handling or working with that substance in a safe manner, and includes information such as physical data (melting point, boiling point, flash point, etc.), toxicity, health effects, first aid, reactivity, storage, disposal, protective equipment, and spill-handling procedures. MSDS formats can vary from source to source within a country depending on national requirements.

SDSs are a widely done system for cataloging information on chemicals, chemical compounds, and chemical mixtures. SDS information may include instructions for the safe use and potential hazards associated with a particular material or product. These data sheets can be found anywhere where chemicals are being used.

There is also a duty to properly label substances on the basis of physico-chemical, health and/or environmental risk. Labels can include hazard symbols such as the European Union standard black diagonal cross on an orange background, used to denote a harmful substance.

An SDS for a substance is not primarily intended for use by the general consumer, focusing instead on the hazards of working with the material in an occupational setting.

In some jurisdictions, the SDS is required to state the chemical’s risks, safety, and effect on the environment.

It is important to use an SDS specific to both country and supplier, as the same product (e.g. paints sold under identical brand names by the same company) can have different formulations in different countries. The formulation and hazard of a product using a generic name (e.g. sugar soap) may vary between manufacturers in the same country.

There are many companies who can offer you MSDS software, offering you a simple solution to global regulatory compliance.  This includes; Safety Data Sheet Software (MSDS Software) for Safety Data Sheet (SDS and MSDS) Authoring, Classification, COSHH, Labelling, Transport Documentation, Document Management and Batch Management.

Such services will include

  •      Supply Classifications – EU / CLP / GHS Classification Systems
  •      Transport Classifications
  •      Multilingual Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
  •      Multilingual Supply and Transport Labels
  •      Instructions in Writing (Tremcards) in all ADR languages
  •      Dangerous Goods Notes
  •      IATA Declarations
  •      Standard Shipping Notes
  •      International CMR’s
  •      COSHH Risk Assessments
  •      Automatic SDS Dispatch via email, fax and post
  •      Automated revision control and archiving of Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
  •      Document Management Software
  •      Batch Management Software
  •      Regulatory upgrades whenever legislation changes
  •      Technical and regulatory support

The Benefits
Any company with a requirement to produce supply or hazard documentation will benefit from the comprehensive knowledge of and MSDS software provider.  Their experience can help you in many ways:

  •      Helps cut costs
  •      Provides piece of mind
  •      Provide a Global Regulatory Compliance Solution
  •      Use a Unicode based system allowing document translation in all global languages including those with Asian or Cyrillic scripts
  •     Addresses all areas of legislation covering the Supply, Transport and labelling of hazardous and non-hazardous substances and preparations
  •      Provide you with a flexible system allowing for user configurations
  •      Store documents as .pdf, .html, .txt, .doc, .rtf, .xls and .ttx, in addition to the systems own document formats
  •      Maintain customer records to keep a history of the Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) that have been sent
  •      Reduces duplication of data entry, improving employee productivity and maintaining data integrity
  •     Provide ongoing support and maintenance to keep the system in line with the latest regulations
  •      Provide high quality regulatory and system support

 

REACH Regulations: The Background

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The EU REACH regulations came into force on 1st June 2007. REACH is a regulation which many companies in the European Union (EU) will have to comply with.

REACH stands for:
Registration – the necessity to submit a (technical) dossier on the properties of a substance.
Evaluation – of the dossier by the authorities.
Authorisation and restriction – on the use of a substance or
preparation of CHemicals.

REACH was introduced because many thousands of chemicals are used in the EU,  some in very large quantities, but the risks to human health and to the environment from many of these are not widely known. REACH intends to address this by making manufacturers and importers of chemicals responsible for producing data to define the  hazards and risks from around 30,000 substances that are manufactured or imported in  quantities of 1tonne or more per year in the EU.

The number of incidents of allergies, asthma, certain types of cancer, and re-productive disorders are on the increase in Europe and chemicals are considered as one possible cause.  If REACH succeeds in reducing chemical-related diseases by only 10%, the  health benefits are estimated at €50 billion over 30 years. 100,106 chemicals were reported to be on the market in 1981, the only time that chemicals have been listed in the EU. The chemicals sector is the third largest manufacturing industry in the EU, encompassing 31,000 companies and 1.9 million people.

Internationally, the EU is the leading chemicals producing area, its €580 billion representing 33% of global sales. For 99% of chemicals (by volume), information on properties, uses and risks is sketchy. There is no data for about 21% of them, and another 65% come with insufficient data. Only 3% have been fully tested The costs of registration, including the necessary testing, are estimated at €2.3 billion over the 11 years that that it will take to register all the substances covered by REACH.

The total costs, including those to downstream users, are estimated at €2.8 billion to €5.2 billion, depending on the extent to which registration costs will increase prices of  chemicals and the costs of substituting chemicals that will be withdrawn.

Creative Software Solutions for Business

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You should look for a web host that offers a good FTP application. An FTP software allows you to upload new content to your site quickly and safely. If you have to go to your host’s site and log in to upload new content, you are losing a lot of time.

The best web hosts offer you many different tools to help you improve your website. Some services allow you to build your site from scratch on an easy to use click and drag software or to use one of their templates, for instance. Look for a service that comes with the kind of tools you need.

Before deciding to ditch your current web host and go for one that is cheaper, consider the software platforms of other companies. You will want to make sure that they are compatible with your current provider, so that you can easily transfer or replicate your files. Save yourself some real headaches by choosing carefully.

If you want to set up a blog using a certain application, make sure that the web host you choose supports it. Not every web host will support every blogging software. The theme from the blogging software that you have your heart set on may not be offered by the other program supported by the web host. So before you make your decision, find out if your blogging software is supported.

When you are faced with the new to transfer your existing service to a new web host provider, consider using a file transfer service to make the change much easier. It can be very time-consuming to do it one file at a time, and fraught with dangers of accidentally losing valuable content. The software you will need is called FTP (file transfer protocol) client software. There are various providers on the Internet and most are reasonably priced.

It can be a little intimidating when starting out, but learning about web hosting is necessary to getting a site up and running. With the information covered in this article you will be able to make more informed decisions about web hosting. Take what you have learned here to heart as you go on the hunt for a new host.

The iPhone – Changing the Global face of Business

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The resounding sales of the iPhone have been credited with reshaping the smartphone industry and helping make Apple one of the world’s most recognised brands.

The iPhone is one fine-tuned piece of technology. The interface is smooth, and the app system is extensive. There are a lot of things to do to optimize the iPhone even more. The article below has essential information for making the most of your iPhone.

Among its many terrific uses the iPhone’s tremendous ability to help you learn foreign languages. By downloading applications that offer vocabulary instruction as well as translation assistance in a large number of tongues, you can set yourself on the path to becoming a true citizen of the world.

If you accidently get your iPhone wet, there is hope! First, do not push the power button; this may cause additional damage. Dry off the phone as much as possible and then put it in a bowl with uncooked rice. Allow it to sit for at least 12 hours. This should help the phone dry out and allow you to use it again.

If you type extensively on your iPhone, consider investing in an external keyboard. There are many wireless models available. They make typing documents, emails and other similar things easier. Some keyboards can even serve a dual purpose, as you can use them with your iPad as well as your iPhone.

Make sure that you delete conversations that you are not using in the message’s screen. This is very important because as time goes on, your conversation history will become longer and longer, reducing the amount of space on your phone. You can do this by going to your message’s section and deleting full conversations or part of them with the edit function.

Take a screen shot on your iPhone. Do you want to capture a shot of your screen? You can quickly push down the Home button, and the Sleep/Wake button at the same time, and then release it. You should hear a camera sound. This will take a picture of whatever is on your screen, and it can be found in your picture file.

If you have locked yourself out of your phone, you should look online for ways to fix it. Many people have had this happen to them as well, so there are videos and other tutorials on how to unlock an iphone online. Just be aware that this is a last resort, as it will likely delete all of your information when you reset it.

A terrific feature of the iPhone is its ability to serve as a versatile source for all of your music needs. Not only can it function as an iPod, it can also facilitate your enjoyment of any number of customizable music applications and streaming radio stations. By familiarizing yourself with these options, you never have to be without your favorite tunes again.

Software

Getting lost is a thing of the past if you have an iPhone with you. The iPhone has a great feature that integrates your phone software with GPS so you can see where you are at any given time, as long as you have service. This can help you get home or anywhere else you were planning to be.

To get the most out of your iPhone, use it as a storage device. You can use your iPhone to store all sorts of files with the help of readily available software. Aside from the obvious music files, you can store pictures, documents and more. The best advantage to this is the fact that you always have access to those files wherever you go.

Make sure your phone is using the latest updates. When you update your device, you’ll have all the fixes, updates, and other important things your iPhone needs. That also requires you to save images and critical data to your computer. This way, should something occur with your phone you are going to have a backup.

Are you wanting to back up all your contacts? There’s an app named iDrive Lite that will allow you to save, share and restore your contacts with ease. You can update and share your updated contacts for free when your iPhone software has 2.0.

The iPhone is an extremely sophisticated device. Your iPhone is everything you could ask for when it comes to the feel, the look, and especially the programming. Using these no-nonsense tricks and tips will allow you to get the most from your iPhone.

 

Effective Software Strategies

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A domain name means a lot when you work in a world composed of 1′s and 0′s. However, the unsung hero of most profitable websites are the web hosts that keep them online twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Powering through the binary battlefield, it would be beneficial if you read the article below and learned how you can benefit even further from these excellent machines.

A good web host should support certain features such as Web scripting, dynamic content or executable files. These features will allow you to add different ways for your visitors to interact with your website, for instance by leaving feedback.

You should look for a web host that offers a good FTP application. An FTP software allows you to upload new content to your site quickly and safely. If you have to go to your host’s site and log in to upload new content, you are losing a lot of time.

The best web hosts offer you many different tools to help you improve your website. Some services allow you to build your site from scratch on an easy to use click and drag software or to use one of their templates, for instance. Look for a service that comes with the kind of tools you need.

Before deciding to ditch your current web host and go for one that is cheaper, consider the software platforms of other companies. You will want to make sure that they are compatible with your current provider, so that you can easily transfer or replicate your files. Save yourself some real headaches by choosing carefully.

If you want to set up a blog using a certain application, make sure that the web host you choose supports it. Not every web host will support every blogging software. The theme from the blogging software that you have your heart set on may not be offered by the other program supported by the web host. So before you make your decision, find out if your blogging software is supported.

When you are faced with the new to transfer your existing service to a new web host provider, consider using a file transfer service to make the change much easier. It can be very time-consuming to do it one file at a time, and fraught with dangers of accidentally losing valuable content. The software you will need is called FTP (file transfer protocol) client software. There are various providers on the Internet and most are reasonably priced.

The Internet is vast and complex, but at it’s core it’s simply a bunch of machines linked in a “Client”/”Host” fashion. In general, we are all the clients. The web hosts provide the alternative function and as long as they continue to do so, we can continue to produce high-quality domains. Once you fully understand their operations, you will have an easier time generating results.