Savo Consortium: Chemical safety across four campuses
– Strengthening chemical safety with the PRO24 system
The Savo Education Consortium (Sakky) includes the Savo Vocational College, which operates in four different locations in Kuopio, Siilinjärvi, Iisalmi and Varkaus. It also includes Varkaus Upper Secondary School. The vocational college offers up to 108 different undergraduate degrees and has around 15 000 students studying on its campuses each year. In many fields, the curriculum includes chemical knowledge and their handling and use are an integral part of the studies. As a result, there are up to 1,000 different types of chemicals in the different sites of the Vocational College and in the study facilities in the different fields. The aim was to strengthen the management of such a large number of chemicals and minimise the risks associated with their use by using the Protect PRO24 system for chemical management.
Sakky has been working to promote chemical safety for a long time. Although it was known that chemicals were used extensively, the true extent of their use only became clear when the system was introduced. A property tree was created for the chemicals module, in which all locations are visible separately and the chemicals used at each location are linked to them. Now, the use of chemicals can be accurately managed by campus, location, and industry, providing a more accurate understanding of the use and quantities of chemicals.
“The electronic chemical management system has brought clarity and ease to our processes, with up-to-date information always available across all locations.”
Timo Toivonen
Occupational Safety Manager at Savo Education Consortium
Students can easily read the information in the chemicals catalogue on their mobile phones via direct links hidden in QR codes.
PRO24 system strengthened chemical safety manageability at Sakky
– When we know that, for example, 114 chemicals are used in Siilinjärvi aircraft technician training, we can now more easily monitor the use of chemicals that are harmful to health,” says Timo Toivonen, Head of Safety and Occupational Health at Savo Education Consortium.
– As an employer’s representative, it is now easy for me to find and tell you what chemicals we have and where they are. When occupational health or occupational health physicians carry out an assessment of health hazards, we have information readily available on which areas, for example, carcinogenic or reproductive harmful chemicals are in use,” Timo says.
PRO24 supports chemical safety in a variety of ways, from occupational safety to education
The system will be rolled out for the first time in the current academic year. Each subject area will plan its use of the software according to its own needs, so that the chemicals are introduced to students in a timeframe that suits them. Other staff and students will be able to access the system and its information via direct links in the QR codes without having to log in to the programme. This will allow teachers and students to easily access lists of chemicals in their respective fields, with information on their use and safety.
Ease of use is key to managing chemical safety
A new health and safety representative is about to start working in Sakky and was only recently trained in the use of PRO24. During the training he immediately found the system to be very easy to use. As a tool for chemical safety, the system should be easy to use and as accessible as possible, so that everyday work is smooth and chemical safety is enhanced.
Maintaining chemical safety is a continuous and long-term effort. Even after the implementation of the electronic chemical system, there are still inventories of chemical stocks, additional chemical data entry and risk assessments to be carried out to ensure that all information is kept up-to-date.
The use of PRO24 has been experienced in Sakky as a clear and effective solution for managing a large volume of chemicals. In conclusion, Toivonen says: “Overall, the knowledge of chemicals has increased as a result of this process.”
