SICHEM – Safe use of chemicals

Chemicals are hazardous to workers' health. SICHEM helps to implement the duty of care to protect health when handling chemicals. The first step is to establish a list of the chemicals stored and used. 

Anyone who uses SICHEM gets an overview of the hazards of the chemicals he or she uses, sees information on the regulatory requirements and can thus make an informed decision and correctly deduce the necessary protective measures for workers.

What are the objectives of SICHEM?
The employer is legally obliged to take all necessary measures to protect the health and life of his employees that are handling chemicals in the company. The first and most important step in this respect is the establishment of a list of chemicals on site. The second step is to generate a list of all activities with these chemicals. Only with such an overview, one can assess the health risks reliably and implement the necessary measures. 

What can SICHEM (Release 1) do?

With SICHEM, you are able to for your chemical products:

  • designate the storage locations and quantities, deduce the storage classes,
  • know the health hazard properties, including current classification and labelling,
  • identify legal restrictions (e.g. protection of mothers and young people at work).

SICHEM is linked to the Swiss Chemicals Register (www.rpc.admin.ch). By importing data from this register, it is possible to efficiently create one's own list of chemicals on site. In this way, the information on these chemicals (e.g. classification) is always up to date and special regulatory requirements can be displayed directly (e.g. maternity protection). 

Who is SICHEM for?

SICHEM is in principle intended for all companies that handle chemicals. It provides support for the simple implementation of the duty of care when handling chemicals in the workplace. 

Where can I find SICHEM (Release 1)?

Via EasyGov (www.easygov.swiss/sichem)

Planned development of SICHEM (Release 1.5)

The following development stages are planned for early 2023: 

Automatic presentation of additional information in the list of chemicals: 
Components of preparations as well as concentrations; occupational exposure limit values, in particular DNEL and OEL; relevant physico-chemical properties (e.g. vapour pressure of substances used). 

List of activities: 
Specific information on how chemicals are used in your company; Description of protective measures. Significant routes of exposure, including oral, dermal, inhalation and eye contact.

By recording the relevant properties and all activities with chemicals, the company has all the information it needs to carry out the required risk assessments and thus take the necessary measures to protect the health of its employees.

Last modification 19.08.2022

Top of page

https://www.seco.admin.ch/content/seco/en/home/Arbeit/Arbeitsbedingungen/Chemikalien-und-Arbeit/vollzugsschwerpunkt_sichem.html