System holds hazardous data

Hazardous Materials Information Resource System

The Defense Logistics Agency has launched an online repository of data about hazardous materials for use across the Defense Department.

The Hazardous Materials Information Resource System is an automated system that serves as a central repository for the material safety data sheets (MSDS) for more than 290,000 products. The system is used by thousands of military and civilian agency personnel who handle, store, transport, use, or dispose of hazardous materials, including personnel in DLA, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard, and the General Services Administration.

HMIRS also contains value-added information input by the military services and agencies. This data includes hazardous materials warning labels and transportation information.

The system uses American Management Systems Inc.'s commercial hazard communications system, ProSteward.

DLA's goal was to simplify the process for capturing MSDS information and allow suppliers to electronically submit the data sheets in an image format, reducing or eliminating manual data entry.

HMIRS supports the new Extensible Markup Language standard for MSDS and includes:

* A Web application, used by workers at industrial facilities to access electronic documents about hazardous material.

* An online administrator application, used by systems administrators to maintain key online information.

* CD-ROMs, which allow off-network users to search and view documents.

* A document-submittal Web site, which enables suppliers and government staff members to submit electronic data sheets to the HMIRS system.

"This revolutionizes MSDS data exchange with suppliers and among government agencies," said Bob Milligan, senior principal of AMS' Federal Defense Group. "Users are reporting a 75 percent reduction in data capture time, which helps provide timelier access to new and revised products."