Hazardous materials are defined in HSC 25501. For most businesses in Los Angeles this will be any material that poses a Health or Physical Hazard. You can determine if your material has a Health or Physical Hazard by referring to Section 2 of the material’s Safety Data Sheet (SDS). 

Reportable thresholds for hazardous materials and defined in HSC 25507. The thresholds are determined based on the physical state of the material (solid, liquid, or gas). Below are the basic thresholds for each physical state. 

• Solids – 500 pounds
• Liquids – 55 gallons
• Gases – 200 cubic feet

Reportable Threshold Reference Guide

NOTE: There are many provisions in HSC 25507 that allow for thresholds to be reduced, increased, exempted or excluded. Refer to HSC 25507 to determine the reporting threshold for your specific material.

To answer the question simply – it saves lives! All the information you report can be viewable by the Los Angeles City Fire Department. In the case of an emergency, first responders are able to see the chemicals stored at your facility and the locations in which they are stored. 

HSC 25515 states the following:

(a) A business that violates section 25504 to 25508.2, inclusive, or Section 25511, shall be civilly liable to the unified program agency in the amount of not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000) for each day in which the violation occurs. If the violation results in, or significantly contributes to, an emergency, including a fire, the business shall also be assessed the full cost of the county or city emergency response, as well as the cost of cleaning up and disposing of the hazardous materials. 

(b) A business that knowingly violates Section 25504 to 25508.2, inclusive, or Section 25510.1, after reasonable notice of the violation shall be civilly liable to the unified program agency in an amount not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each day in which the violation occurs.

This answer depends on how proficient you are with a computer. We recommend this be completed by someone with basic computer skills. Completion of the CERS submittal can be as quick as an hour or as long as a couple of days. If you would prefer not to deal with any of it, please feel free to use one of the Third-Party Contractors provided on this LIST. 

As a business owner, we understand it is sometimes difficult to keep up with all the rules! The hazardous materials reporting program began back in 1996. For many years, it was required that businesses send hardcopy paper versions to the local CUPA. This changed in 2013 when CERS was created. With the creation of CERS, it was required that everything be reported electronically in lieu of hardcopy paper versions.