Reports

Organisations that handle chemicals must be able to document which chemicals are used and how they are handled safely. This includes up-to-date safety data sheets (SDS), risk assessments, overviews of exposure, and measures implemented to reduce risk. The documentation should be easily accessible and kept up to date so that it can be readily presented when required, for example during inspections by authorities.

There are digital chemical and HSE systems that bring together chemical inventories, safety data sheets, risk assessments, exposure records and substitution assessments in a single solution. Tools such as Workplace Safety provide an overview of documentation, help ensure regulatory compliance, and give employees quick access to the information they need.

Chemical reporting in Norway is regulated, among others, by:

• The Working Environment Act
• The Internal Control Regulations
• The Product Control Act
• REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals)
• CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging)

The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority and the Norwegian Environment Agency are the main authorities responsible for enforcing chemical reporting requirements in Norway.

Reports serve as documentation that the organisation has control over chemical use and its HSE work. They may include, for example, overviews of chemicals and quantities, risk assessments, substitution assessments and exposure measurements.

The employer is responsible for ensuring that documentation is up to date, compliant with legal requirements, and easily accessible to employees.

All hazardous chemicals that may pose a risk to health or the environment. Examples include:

• Adhesives and sealants
• Petroleum products
• Metals and metal compounds
• Acids and chemical products
• Dyes and pigments

The frequency may vary, but it is recommended that reports are updated at least once a year, or whenever there are changes in chemical use, new products are introduced, or regulations are updated.

Substitution (replacement of hazardous chemicals) must be documented in writing as part of the organisation’s HSE and internal control system. The documentation should describe which substances have been assessed, which alternatives have been considered, and the justification for choosing a substitute or continuing use.