CHICAGO, Oct. 14, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To give first responders better access to potentially lifesaving hazardous chemical information, MSDSonline, the leading cloud-based hazardous chemical management solutions provider is launching a new chemical information sharing service. Called Plan1, the new service enables MSDSonline customers to give firefighters, paramedics, doctors, police officers and other first responders access to critical information about the hazardous chemicals they may encounter when responding to fires and other emergencies. Plan1 is free to emergency responders and is available at no additional cost to MSDSonline customers with an HQ or HQ RegXR Account.
Using Plan1, companies can share information that the emergency response community needs most before and during a chemical incident, such as chemical inventory lists, safety data sheets, facility floor plans and maps of chemical locations, specially indexed chemical product information (e.g., NFPA, GHS and PPE information), and more. First responders with Plan1 access privileges can use this cloud-based service from any desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile device connected to the internet.
"When it comes to chemical emergencies, we have to do a better job of protecting our first responders," said MSDSonline's VP of Strategy and Product Development, Mike Flynn. "At MSDSonline, we're committed to developing leading-edge safety technologies that help our customers better prepare alongside their responder community by sharing critical information before an incident occurs. This exciting, lifesaving product is just another sign of that commitment."
The idea for Plan1 grew organically out of interviews with customers and hundreds of first responders. Firefighters and other first responders consistently expressed the need for an easier way to access hazardous chemical information. Both chemical users and emergency personnel wanted a way for companies to share up-to-date information with local fire departments, hospitals, paramedics, local emergency preparedness committees (LEPCs) and state emergency response commissions (SERCs).
According to Flynn, events like the explosion at the West Texas fertilizer plant and the issuing of Executive Order 13650, which calls on federal agencies to improve chemical safety in the United States, made it clear that the idea was overdue and needed to be fast-tracked. Plan1 is launching on the heels of Fire Prevention Week, a time dedicated to improving awareness around fire safety. A video outlining Plan1's benefits to businesses and first responders can be viewed online at http://www.msdsonline.com/industries/first-responder.aspx.
Flynn added, "This service is not about us. It's about saving the lives of our customers, their employees, members of their community, and the community of first responders, which is a shared resource upon which we all rely. Sharing is preparing: By providing safety data sheets and chemical facility maps to first responders before they are needed, our customers can start the conversation about what equipment, training and processes are needed for an emergency in advance of a crisis. It should simultaneously mitigate the damage resulting from chemical events, while also preventing such events from occurring in the first place."
In addition to Plan 1, the MSDSonline HQ and HQ RegXR Accounts also provide users with powerful tools for managing safety data sheets and their chemical inventory, providing employees with right-to-know access to safety information, and moving toward a more sustainable and environmentally responsible chemical footprint.
To learn more about Plan1 or to sign up for an HQ or HQ RegXR Account, visit MSDSonline on the Web at www.msdsonline.com or call toll-free 1-888-362-2007 from the United States and Canada.
About MSDSonline
Founded in 1996 and based in Chicago, MSDSonline is a leading provider of cloud-based EH&S compliance solutions, offering products and services for managing safety data sheets, reporting workplace incidents, training employees and administering other critical EH&S information. The company's mission is to provide sustainable solutions that help customers improve employee safety, streamline compliance recordkeeping and reduce potential exposures to workplace hazards and risks. MSDSonline has been recognized for six years on Inc. magazine's list of America's 5,000 fastest-growing private companies. More information is available online at www.MSDSonline.com and on the official company blog at www.MSDSonline.com/blog. MSDSonline is an Actua (Nasdaq:ACTA) company.