A SIMPLE GUIDE TO SAFE CHEMICAL STORAGE

Following our new distribution partnership with Armorgard, here at Lifting Equipment Store UK, we would like to take this opportunity to discuss the importance of hazardous substance storage, and provide you with some easy to remember tips and tricks to ensure that you’re storing your chemicals, in turn, guaranteeing the safety of your onsite personnel – afterall, your safety is always the priority.

ALWAYS SEEK ADVICE

Storing hazardous chemicals, flammable substances and harmful gases is subject to many strict policies and regulations. Let’s face it, at the end of the day, you and your employees health and safety is at serious risk.

Legally, many substances can be stored on site, many must be stored outside, and quantity limits are often imposed. It can seem a complicated subject. But we would stress that research will always pay dividends. Don’t hesitate to seek advice. Why not take a moment to check out www.hse.gov.uk

A SIMPLE THEORY

Looking at Armorgard’s ‘VICES’ strategy is a great place to start on your journey to making an informed decision on any chemical storage purchase. Before making up your mind, you must always take into consideration the following five principles. Don’t dive in, take a second and think:

• Is there plenty of fresh air where my flammable liquids are being stored and used? VENTILATION is essential
• Have all the obvious IGNITION sources been removed from your storage and handling areas?
• Are your substances CONTAINED in suitable units?
• Can you EXCHANGE a flammable substance for something less aggressive?
• Are your flammable substances SEPARATED correctly, kept away from other process and storage areas?

See, it’s simple advice, but it’s an effective strategy. By always asking yourself these five questions, not only ensures the task is handled correctly, but also maintains maximum levels of protection for yourself and your colleagues. You must be 100% considerate when handling this type of substance, it’s not just you at risk.

CONTROLLING RISKS

Even without knowing the in-and-outs of chemical substances, common sense says that you understand that there are risk associated with this type of material handling. Flammable chemicals dispel some volume of harmful vapours at room temperature, with many substances producing large volumes. But remember, any volume is a harmful one.

When mixed with air, many of these vapours become dangerous, on the brink of ignition, which, putting it lightly, can be particularly volatile. The same goes with spilt or leaking chemicals, even worse in the fact that they can potentially flow away from the ignition point but flashback to the source of the leak, creating an even larger hazard area. And spillages on your clothes speak for themselves. Serious injury is the risk should your clothes set on fire.

This may sound simple stuff, but you’d be amazed at how many injuries occur each year, with the HSE receiving hundreds of thousands of reports of serious workplace injury in the UK due to exposure of hazardous chemicals, resulting in explosions of aggressive fires. (https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/\)

So how can you control these risks? Consider the following:

• Store different flammable substances in separate areas or purpose-made cupboards/units
• Dispense and use only in a safe place with good ventilation and zero source of ignition
• Ensure storage containers are closed when not in use
• Keep a spill kit to hand
• Use disposal experts
• Keep an adequate amount of fire extinguishers to hand

WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW?

According to regulations, all storage cabinets must be designed to retain spills (110% volume of the largest vessel regularly stored in it or 25% of the total amount stored – whichever greater).

Flammable liquids must be kept in closed containers and stored in units that are manufactured from materials that will resist fire for 30 minutes.

Did you also know, that the HSE classes vans as ‘workplaces’ during working hours? This means that Driver training in accordance with ADR1.3. is required, drivers must carry at least one 2kg fire extinguisher on board, and jerry cans (EU approved, marked UN1203) are to be stowed away securely during transit.