Automated Compliance Checking

What It Does

Tellus automatically checks your chemical inventory against federal and state regulations and flags items that need attention. Instead of manually cross-referencing each chemical against dozens of regulatory lists, your agent does it for you — continuously, every time your inventory changes.

Compliance Check Types

Tellus runs 7 types of compliance checks against your chemicals:

1. OSHA HazCom Requirements

What it checks: Is the chemical hazardous? Is it on your written inventory? Have workers been trained on it?

Why it matters: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1200 requires every hazardous chemical in your workplace to be listed in your HazCom program with proper labels, SDS access, and employee training. A single unlisted chemical can result in a citation.

2. Exposure Monitoring Requirements

What it checks: Does this chemical have an OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)? Is there a substance-specific OSHA standard (like benzene, formaldehyde, or lead)?

Why it matters: Chemicals with PELs may require air monitoring, medical surveillance, and engineering controls. Substance-specific standards (29 CFR 1910.1001–1052) have additional mandatory requirements beyond the general HazCom standard.

3. TRI Reporting Requirements

What it checks: Is this chemical on the EPA Toxics Release Inventory (SARA 313) list? Do your quantities exceed the reporting threshold?

Why it matters: Facilities with 10+ employees that manufacture, process, or use more than 10,000 lbs/year of a TRI-listed chemical must file an annual Toxics Release Inventory report. Missing the March 1 deadline results in fines.

4. CERCLA Spill Reporting

What it checks: Does this chemical have a CERCLA Reportable Quantity (RQ)?

Why it matters: If you release a CERCLA-listed chemical at or above its RQ, you must notify the National Response Center within 24 hours (1-800-424-8802). RQs range from 1 lb to 5,000 lbs depending on the chemical.

5. California Prop 65

What it checks: Is this chemical on the California Proposition 65 list for causing cancer or reproductive harm?

Why it matters: If you sell products in California containing Prop 65 chemicals, you must provide consumer-facing warnings. Penalties can reach $2,500 per violation per day.

6. Carcinogen Identification

What it checks: Has this chemical been classified as a carcinogen by IARC, NTP, OSHA, or ACGIH?

Why it matters: Carcinogens require additional workplace protections — employee notification, exposure minimization, special handling procedures, and medical surveillance. Knowing which of your chemicals are classified carcinogens is essential for compliance.

7. Exposure Limit Evaluation

What it checks: What are the OSHA PEL, NIOSH REL, and ACGIH TLV values for this chemical?

Why it matters: These limits define safe workplace air concentrations. OSHA PELs are legally enforceable, NIOSH RELs are more protective recommendations, and ACGIH TLVs represent industry best practices. Having all three values lets you choose the most protective standard for your workers.

How It Works

1. Automatic triggering — Compliance checks run whenever you add a chemical, upload an SDS, or update your inventory
2. Regulatory data enrichment — Tellus pulls data from authoritative sources (NIH PubChem, SDS Section 15) for each CAS number in your inventory
3. Cross-referencing — Each chemical is checked against all 7 compliance categories
4. Flagging — Chemicals that trigger regulatory requirements are flagged with actionable recommendations
5. Dashboard — View your compliance status across all chemicals from the Insights dashboard

What You See

For each chemical in your inventory, Tellus shows:

Status	Meaning
Green checkmark	Chemical is not on this regulatory list — no action needed
Red warning	Chemical IS on this list — action may be required
Gray dash	Regulatory data not yet available — enrichment in progress

Actionable Recommendations

When a compliance check flags a chemical, Tellus provides specific guidance:

Flag	What You Should Do
OSHA PEL listed	Ensure air monitoring is in place; keep exposure below the PEL; provide appropriate respirators
Substance-specific standard	Follow the specific OSHA standard requirements (monitoring, medical surveillance, engineering controls)
TRI listed	Track annual usage; file TRI report by March 1 if above threshold
CERCLA RQ	Know the reportable quantity; have spill reporting procedures in place
Prop 65 listed	Add consumer warnings to products sold in California
Carcinogen	Notify workers; minimize exposure; implement special handling procedures

Tier Availability

Feature	Starter	Standard	Pro
Basic hazard flagging	Included	Included	Included
Full compliance checking (all 7 types)	—	Included	Included
Automated recommendations	—	Included	Included
Compliance dashboard	—	Included	Included