EHS Assistant

EHS Assistant (EHSA) is a comprehensive software program used by EHS and hazardous material users within the university. Below find instructions for common tasks in EHSA, including logging in for the first time, submitting a hazardous waster pick up request, and searching the chemical exchange.

First Time Log In 

  1. Go to EHSA and select Worker Registration.
  2. Complete the Missing Fields.
  3. Select your department, principal investigator (PI)/researcher, and permit number. This helps the system link your profile to certain chemical templates and hazardous waste pickup location. If you are not from a lab or cannot find an appropriate PI, contact EHS.

Hazardous Waste Pick Up Submission 

  1. Login to EHSA and select Hazardous Waste.
  2. Check the location in the yellow space at the top. If empty or is incorrect, use the Edit button to inform us where the waste is located.
  3. If you need bottles, waste tags, or twist ties, use the Order Replacement Containers & Labels button.
  4. Fill out the container section as completely as possible. At a minimum include Waste Type, # of Containers, Container Type, Size, and Unit of Measure. This ensures we are able to identify the containers for disposal. If the waste is in an unusual or non-standard place, complete the location of waste.
  5. Complete the container contents field. Select Search to begin adding contents. Search via Chemical Description (name) or CAS#. You may have to scroll the list or use a variation of the name. (e.g. toluene may show up as methylbenzene).
  6. Adjust the % of content as appropriate.
  7. Repeat for each constituent until complete.
  8. Repeat the process by selecting Add Container for each waste type on your pick-up request.
  9. If there are no other wastes for pick-up, select Save to submit the request to EHS.  

Make A Template

To improve the waste interface and make your future requests faster, make a template using the Template Options button. When a template is made you only need to apply the appropriate template for the bottles rather than re-add every container content. Give the template an appropriate name (e.g. inorganic acid waste, piranha waste, flammable solvents no halogens, base bath). Select Apply template and adjust the percentages for your waste.

Search Chemical Exchange/ Re-Use Inventory 

  1. Login to EHSA
  2. Go to Inventory Tab
  3. Click Quick Chemical Entry under Chemical Inventory. You can also view or enter your lab inventory.
  4. In the PI drop-down, select Chemical Exchange, EH&S
  5. To Search for a Chemical, type the chemical name in the area beneath Chemical Description. You can use the drop-down to change your search criterion.
  6. Move the scroll bar to the right to see the number of units, quantity per unit, volume, lab (room), and storage location. If the chemical meets your requirements, contact the Hazardous Materials team.
  7. If your PI/department has a key, access may be more direct to the facility. If you acquire a chemical this way, please fill out a re-use Facility inventory card located at the main shelf end. We can update the online portal to ensure inventory is as current as possible.
  8. When finished with the compound, if it is still useful, submit a waste request and EHS will remove, evaluate, and restock the material. 

While UO EHS performs a basic evaluation on all new re-use items, we cannot guarantee the quality of the re-use materials. They may be degraded due to age, storage conditions, or contamination. Test to ensure any re-use material meets your experimental quality needs. 

Update Your Lab Inventory

All labs are required to provide an accurate chemical inventory annually at minimum. 

  1. Fill out the chemical inventory spreadsheet.
  2. When complete, email to the Hazardous Materials Group. 

What to Include:

  • All chemicals and chemical products
  • All compressed and liquified gases (including cryogens)
  • DEA-listed controlled substances
  • Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chemicals of interest
  • Hazardous household chemicals (e.g. bleach, pesticides, cleaning solvents)
  • Lubricants, fuels, and oils (e.g. motor oil, gasoline, diesel, white gas, vacuum pump oil)
  • Aerosol cans (e.g. spray cans)
  • Paints and cleaning solvents
  • Select agents and toxins

What to not include: 

  • Materials to be expended within 1-2 days (e.g. working solutions)
  • Retail products used for routine household activities (e.g. cleansers, dish soap)
  • Enzymes
  • Radioactive materials
  • Biological materials
  • Microorganism
  • Purchased kit chemicals such as DNA, RNA purification kits