Searching Using Index Features

The indexing features in Chemical Hazards in Industry Online are divided into three main parts:

• chemical names and their associated CAS Registry Numbers
• descriptors and sections
• cross-reference sections 

If you enter text in more than one of the chemical name/CAS Registry Number and descriptor  text boxes, the search results will only contain records that match all of your criteria, and not just any of your criteria. This is also the case if you enter text in one or more of the above text boxes and click on a section name in the drop-down list.

Both databases have a powerful facility which maximises the number of relevant records retrieved. Entered search terms are checked against a thesaurus containing many tens of thousands of synonyms and common acronyms. Your search results will include records containing your entered search terms and also relevant records containing synonyms or acronyms from the thesaurus. Therefore, although chemical names are indexed with the root of the molecule first, for example:

phenol, 2,4-dichloro-

it is not always necessary to enter chemical name search term in this form to search this index. For example, using the chemical name text box and entering: MIBK will retrieve all records containing the index term ketone, isobutyl methyl, as MIBK is one of the synonyms in the thesaurus for the index term ketone, isobutyl methyl.

CAS Registry Numbers are given where they are known for Chemical Names. To search using a CAS Registry Number, click on the square check box labelled use CAS Registry Number, then enter the CAS Registry Number (including the hyphens) in the text box.

Entering health & safety in the descriptor text box will retrieve all records containing one or more of the descriptors health & safety, health & safety, management, health & safety policy, occupational health & safety etc.

Items are assigned a section name, plus up to four cross-reference sections, according to the broad subject area(s) they fit into, for example fires and explosions or carcinogens and mutagens. These are given in a drop-down list from which a selection can be made.