Chemical & HMM Department

• CHEMICAL AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MANAGEMENT

The primary duty of the department is to protect and safeguard the environment by preventing accidents that may occur as a result of non-compliance with standards and regulations in the utilization of chemicals and hazardous materials in the state. The department ensures that chemicals are stored, utilized, and disposed sustainably.
FUNCTIONS:
1.To develop adequate capacity to monitor and regulate chemicals and hazardous materials concerning global standards and enforce compliance.
2. To establish a database for all generators of hazards/toxic waste.
3. Inventory of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS), Persistent Toxic Substance (PTS) sources, rates, recovery, etc.
4. To develop appropriate policies and standards for chemicals and hazardous materials handling in the state.
5. Regulations of activities of chemicals, retail, and wholesale, in compliance with environmental laws and standards.
6. Issuance of chemical storage/usage permits/licenses to all major stakeholders, manufacturers, and marketers of chemicals and allied products.
7. Safe destruction and disposal of expired, obsolete, and damaged materials and finished products.
8. Monitoring, surveillance, assessment, and investigation of incidents of chemical spills within the state.
9. Regulation and monitoring of chemicals utilized in the integrated pest control sector, and cleaning sector as well as registering/issuing of permits for all major operators in the space.
T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda
Relevance of the activities to the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda of Mr. Governor concerning Health and Environment include the following;
1. Preventing accidents and loss of lives due to improper practices in chemicals utilization
2. Ensuring a safe and healthy environment devoid of pollution from chemical sources
3. Ensuring the implementation of regulatory standards and best practices in manufacturing facilities and chemical warehouses
4. Ensuring sustainable partnerships with all relevant stakeholders including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Pest Control Association of Nigeria, etc to ensure that global best practices are enshrined in the chemicals utilization space.
5. Ensuring that the State is a sustainable megacity through public awareness and pollution prevention.

FAQs

Question: What is a Chemical Storage Permit?
Answer: It is a permit/certificate that is obtained at LASEPA by all facilities that store or utilize chemicals in a commercial or industrial capacity.

Question: Who are those meant to obtain a Chemical Storage Permit?
Answer: Section 184 subsection 1-3 of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017 states that it is an offense to carry on business of manufacturing, and storage of chemicals, lubricants, petroleum products, gases, etc without a permit from the Agency.

Question: How should expired chemicals be disposed?
Answer: The facility must notify the Agency of any/all expired chemicals for proper sustainable reuse, recycling, or disposal. 

Question: What are the regulatory requirements for a standard warehouse used to store chemicals?
Answer: Environmental Technical Report, Chemical Storage Permit, Insurance Policy, Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), Safe Handling of Chemicals (SHOC) cards for all chemicals, adequately serviced fire extinguishers, proper stacking of chemicals, illustrative educational environmental safety warning posters, etc.

Question: Why is it compulsory for a warehouse to have an insurance policy?
Answer: A chemical warehouse needs to be insured to ensure proper liability and recovery from any form of accidents or fire outbreaks and for the protection of the environment, lives and property.

Question: What are the Agency requirements for pest control registration/accreditation?
Answer:
• Written application letter on official letterhead addressed to the General Manager LASEPA
• Registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
• Proof of training from LASEPA, Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON), or Pest Control Association of Nigeria (PECAN) obtained within the last 2 years.
• Profile of the company.
CONTACT:
chm@lasepa.gov.ng