Question 1

How do I get started with Chemspark?

Accepted Answer

After signing up, you'll be guided through a quick onboarding: 1) Upload your first Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — Chemspark automatically extracts hazard classifications, H/P-statements, GHS pictograms, and physical properties. 2) Review the extracted data and make any corrections. 3) Create risk assessments based on actual workplace usage. 4) Check compliance against regulatory lists. You can start with up to 5 products for free.

Question 2

How do I upload a Safety Data Sheet?

Accepted Answer

Go to Inventory and click 'Add Product' for a single upload or 'Bulk Upload' for multiple files at once. Bulk upload includes smart duplicate detection to prevent double entries. Chemspark extracts product name, supplier, CAS numbers, hazard statements, pictograms, and more. Review the extracted data and save.

Question 3

What file formats are supported for SDS upload?

Accepted Answer

We currently support PDF files. For best results, use the official SDS document from your supplier. Scanned PDFs work but may have lower extraction accuracy than digitally-created PDFs.

Question 4

Why wasn't all data extracted from my SDS?

Accepted Answer

SDS documents vary widely in format and quality. Chemspark handles most formats well, but very old, poorly formatted, or image-based PDFs may require manual review. You can edit any field after upload. Documents with lower extraction confidence are automatically saved as drafts marked 'Needs Review' so you can verify them before finalizing.

Question 5

How does the risk assessment work?

Accepted Answer

Chemspark starts with a quick screening — a few questions about how the product is actually used decide whether it can be accepted and documented right away, or needs a full assessment. When more is needed, three qualitative models — Inhalation, Dermal, and Fire & Explosion — evaluate specific parameters: hazard level and physical state are auto-populated from the SDS, while exposure potential, amount used, and contact details are based on your actual workplace situation. The system calculates a risk rating from low to very high and suggests appropriate control measures. When qualitative results indicate further analysis is needed, the built-in Tier-1 exposure model provides quantitative inhalation exposure assessment.

Question 6

What do the risk level colors mean?

Accepted Answer

Green (1): Low risk — standard precautions sufficient. Yellow (2): Moderate risk — enhanced controls recommended. Orange (3): High risk — specific protective measures required. Red (4): Very high risk — consider substitution or engineering controls.

Question 7

What are the different risk assessment models?

Accepted Answer

Chemspark uses a layered approach. It starts with a screening — a few questions about use that either accept a low-risk product right away or route it on for a closer look. When that's needed, three qualitative models — Inhalation (evaluates airborne exposure risk), Dermal (evaluates skin contact risk), and Fire & Explosion (evaluates fire and explosion risk) — combine SDS hazard data with workplace-specific exposure parameters to give a risk rating from low to very high. When qualitative results flag a situation that needs more detail, the built-in Tier-1 exposure model provides quantitative inhalation exposure assessment.

Question 8

What are CMR, ZZS, SVHC, SZW, and other compliance lists?

Accepted Answer

These are regulatory lists that flag substances of concern. CMR = Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, Reprotoxic. SVHC = Substances of Very High Concern (REACH). ZZS = Zeer Zorgwekkende Stoffen (Dutch priority list). SZW = Substances on the Dutch SZW list of carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic substances. We also check REACH Authorization and Restriction lists. All products are automatically screened against these lists.

Question 9

Can I create my own compliance lists?

Accepted Answer

Yes! In addition to the built-in regulatory lists, you can create custom compliance lists for your organization. Upload substances via Excel with CAS numbers and optional EC numbers. This is useful for company-specific restricted substance lists, customer requirements, or internal policies. Your products are automatically screened against your custom lists alongside the standard regulatory lists.

Question 10

What is a workplace instruction card and how do I create one?

Accepted Answer

A workplace instruction card summarises, for a single product, what employees on the work floor need to know: the main hazards, the protective measures and what to do in an incident. Chemspark automatically generates a draft from the product's SDS data — including in bulk for multiple products at once. You review the content and adjust where needed; each card then enters a review cycle with a revision date after 12 months. You can print the card for the workplace or share it digitally via a public link.

Question 11

How do I print GHS labels?

Accepted Answer

Go to the GHS Labels page to create compliant labels for your products. Select one or more products, choose a label format (various standard sizes available), and generate print-ready labels. Each label includes the product name, GHS pictograms, signal word, H-statements, P-statements, and supplier information — all automatically populated from the SDS data.

Question 12

How do I track chemical storage and departments?

Accepted Answer

Chemspark lets you organize your chemical inventory by department and storage location within each site. Add departments and storage locations in your site settings, then assign products with quantities and units. This gives you a clear overview of what chemicals are stored where, helps with inventory management, and supports emergency response planning.

Question 13

How does supplier management work?

Accepted Answer

The Suppliers page lets you manage all your chemical suppliers in one place. Add supplier details (company name, contact person, email, phone) and link them to products. When an SDS expires, you can send update requests directly to the supplier's email from within Chemspark. Track the status of your requests and set up follow-up reminders.

Question 14

How do I add team members to my organization?

Accepted Answer

Go to Settings and find the user management section. You can invite users by email. They'll receive an invitation to join your organization. You can assign roles (Admin, User) to control access levels.

Question 15

Can I manage products across multiple locations?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Chemspark supports multiple locations under one organization. Each location has its own product inventory, but you can view consolidated reports across all locations. Use the location switcher in the header to switch between sites.

Question 16

What notifications are available?

Accepted Answer

Chemspark offers configurable notifications for key events: SDS expiration warnings (before your documents expire), high-risk product alerts, compliance list matches (CMR, SVHC, ZZS, SZW, custom lists), and risk assessment review reminders. Configure which notifications you receive, set minimum risk thresholds, choose per-location preferences, and select your preferred digest frequency in the notification settings.

Question 17

What is the logbook?

Accepted Answer

The logbook records every change made in Chemspark — product additions, edits, deletions, risk assessment updates, and more. Each entry shows who made the change, when, and what was modified. You can filter by date range, action type, user, or table. The logbook can be exported for compliance documentation or internal reviews.

Question 18

How do I export my data?

Accepted Answer

Use the Reports page to create custom reports. Select your data source (products, risk assessments, compliance), choose columns, apply filters, and export to Excel or PDF. You can also save report templates for recurring exports.

Question 19

How does SDS expiry tracking work?

Accepted Answer

We track the revision date on each SDS. When an SDS is older than your configured threshold (typically 3-5 years), it's flagged for update. You can configure email notifications to alert you before SDS documents expire.

Question 20

Is my chemical data secure and private?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your data is encrypted in transit and at rest. We're GDPR compliant and never share your data with third parties. Each organization's data is completely isolated. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

Question 21

Can I change the language or theme?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Chemspark is available in English and Dutch. Use the language switcher in the navigation bar to switch between languages — the entire interface updates immediately. You can also toggle between light and dark mode using the theme button in the header, so you can work comfortably in any lighting condition.

Question 22

What's included in each subscription plan?

Accepted Answer

Every plan includes the full workflow — SDS parsing, screening, qualitative and quantitative risk assessments, workplace instruction cards, GHS labels and continuous compliance monitoring. The plans differ in capacity: Free (up to 5 products, one site); Small (up to 250 products, one site); Medium (up to 1,000 products, multiple sites); Enterprise (unlimited). See our pricing page for current limits.

Question 23

How do I cancel my subscription?

Accepted Answer

You can cancel anytime from Settings. Your access continues until the end of your billing period. You can export all your data before cancellation. After cancellation we retain your data for a limited period so you can reactivate if you change your mind.

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