Who is this article for?

Users who need to dispense chemicals.

Administrator role is required.

The Dispense function allows you to split the contents of an existing chemical container into multiple smaller containers while preserving traceability and regulatory compliance.

1. Accessing the Dispense function

Before you can use the Dispense function, an administrator must enable it in the system settings.

To enable the Dispense function:

1. Go to Edit Settings
2. Select Chemical Inventory
3. Choose Show Chemical Dispense.
4. Set the value to True.
5. Once enabled, the Dispense option will appear in the container's action menu for users with the appropriate Chemical Inventory permissions.

To access the Dispense function:

1. Navigate to the Chemical Inventory Dashboard.
2. Use the Search Bar or Advanced Filters to locate the container you want to dispense from.
3. Click the Action Menu (three-dot icon) next to the container.
4. Select Dispense.

2. Setting dispense details

When you select Dispense, a new Dispense window opens.

To create new containers:

1. Enter the Number of New Containers (how many new containers will be created).
2. Enter the Quantity per Container (the amount to be placed in each new container).
3. Click Submit to finalise.

The system will generate new child container records, each automatically linked back to the original parent container for full traceability.

3. Understanding inherited data

Each new container created through Dispense will inherit key data from the source container to ensure consistent tracking across the system.

The following information carries over to new containers:

• Chemical Identification: Name, Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) number, catalogue number, hazard codes
• Ownership and Location: Principal Investigator (PI), owner, building, room, department
• Regulatory Details: Permit status, regulatory codes, United Nations (UN) number
• Custom Fields: Any required or optional fields defined in the Chemical Inventory Form settings

4. Managing dispense operations

Keep the following considerations in mind when dispensing chemicals:

• Permissions: Only users with the correct Chemical Inventory permissions can perform a dispense
• Quantity Validation: The total volume of all new containers cannot exceed the remaining quantity in the original container
• Audit and Traceability: The system logs the relationship between the parent and child containers for reconciliation and reporting
• Labelling: Newly created containers can be labelled immediately using the Label Generator to maintain proper identification and hazard communication