POLICY

The Hospital Pharmacy is responsible for the purchase, storage, and distribution of all flammable solvents for the UAMS Campus. This responsibility is delegated to a Flammables Technician who works under supervision of the Supply and Production Supervisor.

B. PURCHASE OF FLAMMABLES

1. The Purchasing office, UAMS, routes all flammable products purchases for the Campus through the Pharmacy Department. If the item requested by another department is routinely stocked, the department will be contacted and instructed to place an interdepartmental order for the smallest quantity needed. If the item is not routinely stocked, the purchase order is approved by pharmacy for special order.

2. An annual bid-contract is obtained for flammables used in large quantities. Items not on contract are handled by :

    a. Open order purchase by the Pharmacy Department to be sold on interdepartmental to the requisitioning department.

    b. Purchased as in (1) by the requisitioning department and shipped to the Pharmacy for storage and distribution. When the requisitioning department uses their funds for purchase, the material is stored separately and distributed only to that department.

C. STORAGE

1. All bulk supplies of flammable solvents and chemicals are stored in the Flammables Building on Elm street immediately behind the City Fire Station. This building meets all standards for large volume storage of flammable solvents.

    a. Tax-Free Alcohol is stored on the North side of the building in a locked vault.

    b. Other solvents are stored in the south side of the building in a locked cage. The solvents which are owned by the pharmacy are in alphabetical order on the front shelves. Solvents and partial container belonging to specific departments are stored on shelving against the South wall and are separated by department.

    c. All highly volatile, potentially explosive or highly unstable solvents such as ether and petroleum ether, are stored in a small walk-in refrigerator in the Southwest corner of the building.

    d. Waste solvents and other dangerous chemicals are stored on the East central side of the building and are managed and disposed of by Occupational Health and Safety.

2. Small amount of flammable solvents are stored in two certified Flammable Storage Cabinets located in Room B- 267 in the Production Area.

D. FILLING FLAMMABLE ORDERS

1. All orders for flammables are filled and distributed on Thursday.

    a. Interdepartmental orders must be in the pharmacy by 8:00 on Thursday morning.

    b. Orders received during the week will be held for the Thursday delivery. A small emergency supply can be obtained during the week if necessary.

    c. All requisitions received are entered on the Comprehensive Inventory Form for flammables.

    d. The empty gallon containers from the Pathology Department are transported to the Flammables Building. A campus vehicle or a cart may be used.

    e. Flammables which are stored in 55 gallon drums are pumped from the drums using an air compressor. The compressor is connected to an electrical source outside of the building on the small loading dock. Electrostatic tubing is used to pump air from the compressor to the drum. Grounding wires are attached to the drums.

    f. All commercially packaged solvents are filled and loaded on a cart or in the vehicle.

E. DISTRIBUTING FLAMMABLE ORDERS

3. Emergency supplies (small quantities) of commonly used flammables are usually available in the Pharmacy. An individual from the requisitioning department must pick up such a supply.

4. Charging for Flammable Supplies is done by Interdepartmental Requisition.

F. DESTRUCTION

All waste solvents and dangerous chemicals are given to the Department of Occupational Health and Safety for removal from the campus.