Photo By Savannah Baird | Thomas Ball, the Fort Knox Logistics Readiness Center Supply and Services Division...... read more read more
FORT KNOX, Ky. — In November 2024, the Army announced a new hazardous materials management system that would replace the Environmental Safety and Occupational Health – Management Information System (EESOH-MIS) and streamline the process for users.
In June, Fort Knox transitioned to the new Web Compliance Assistance and Sustainment System-Enterprise (WEBCASS-E) Hazardous Material Inventory Database (HMID) system.
According to Fort Knox Logistics Readiness Center Supply and Services Division chief Thomas Ball, the new system is an Army program designed to bring material tracking, procurement, storage and disposal management to the unit level.
“The original program that we used to have belonged to the Air Force. So, everyone had to have an Air Force account, and it was harder to get things done,” said Ball. “HMID [the Army system] is down at the user level.”
Ball said the transition went smoothly overall, and the minor issues that arose were promptly resolved with a work order.
“Originally, we had a go-live date in May,” he said. “However, there were a few things going wrong – reports that weren't running accurate and safety data sheets that needed imported – so they pushed our go-live date to June.
“As soon as we did the conversion, [those issues were resolved] and we were able to start working in the system.”
Ball said the new HMID system is more user friendly and expansive than the previous system.
“I'm able to do more and gather more information in HMID than what I could in EESOH-MIS,” he said. “EESOH-MIS was just a basic system – it was just for accountability. With HMID, it's cradle-to-grave. I can do things EESOH-MIS wouldn't let me.”
Easily accessing safety data sheets and breaking down bulk items in inventory logs – preventing excess materials from expiring and reducing waste – are two things Ball said the new system brings to the table.
“Say we get a two-part epoxy.… With HMID, I can break that down into two parts in the inventory,” he said. “EESOH-MIS would only let me mark the product as a bulk item. With the new system, if I've got 24 bottles of epoxy, it gives me 24 labels to go on each one of those bottles.
“So, if a unit turns one part in but still needs the other, I can receive just that item instead of the whole epoxy kit. And I can issue it the same way.”
Ball said the new system also allows him to run more specific reports in the tracking system. This ensures all materials are correctly logged and expired materials disposed of in a timely manner.
Another bonus, said Ball, is that the Directorate of Public Works Environmental Management Division Hazardous Materials Office also has access to the system.
“The transition has been seamless for the customers on Fort Knox who utilize hazardous materials to fulfill their missions,” said Kerri Martin, the DPW Environmental Management Division Hazardous Materials program manager.
Martin said this is because HMID provides a multifaceted examination and analysis system for hazardous material data. This is important, she said, because the information is utilized for the Installation’s annual environmental reporting in accordance with the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).
According to Martin, HMID also has an analytics function that allows real-time oversight and data analysis of the chemicals stored and used on the installation.
“It is a tedious task to track every container of hazardous materials on Fort Knox,” said Martin. “The HMID system provides the framework and practical methods to do just that from the time a hazardous material enters the gates to the final disposition of that material.
“The HMID system is an improvement and will serve Fort Knox well for inventory management of hazardous materials across the installation.”
Editor’s note: For more information on the transition to the new system, follow the link to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers article at, https://www.army.mil/article/281388/usace_assists_with_army_hazardous_material_tracking_transition.
| Date Taken: | 09.22.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.22.2025 12:42 |
| Story ID: | 548941 |
| Location: | FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY, US |
| Web Views: | 34 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, New Army hazardous material tracking system provides cradle-to-grave management capabilities, by Savannah Baird, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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