The Brief Guide That Makes Safely Storing Hazardous Materials Simple

Across the developed world, industrial accidents and related deaths are on the rise. There are many reasons for this, some of which are related to how the pandemic has caused many to forget about other important workplace safety protocols. If you want to avoid fatal accidents as a small business owner, you and your entire team need to know exactly how to store hazardous materials.

With business ownership comes great responsibility. You are liable for ensuring that all hazardous materials on your site are safely and properly stored at all times. If you fail to do this, the human, financial, and legal costs can be staggering. Read this quick explainer to learn more about safely storing hazardous materials in your workplace. 

1. Some Hazardous Materials Should Always Be Kept Separate

Different hazardous chemicals react differently around other chemicals. If there is some kind of leak and two volatile materials mix together, the result could be an explosion or a release of hazardous waste, which you do not want. Always check your safety data sheet to see which materials cannot be stored together. For smart management, you should also consult a verified online MSDS to learn about your safety and storage requirements. 

2. You Need a Storage System in Place

It is not enough to simply have a room or a cabinet set aside for storing hazardous materials. You should properly consider your storage system and how you can design it to provide maximum safety. For example, storing chemicals at a height makes spills and accidents much more likely. Meanwhile, you need to ensure that your storage system has more than enough volume for all materials. 

3. Label Everything, Always

This one might sound obvious, but it bears repeating. With hazardous chemicals, opting for the sniff-test approach can be lethal. Label all storage containers clearly, accurately, and unambiguously. If you fail to do this, you will likely be in breach of several safety codes and could face massive fines as a result. 

4. Restrict Access to the Storage Areas

Not everyone needs to be able to access your hazardous materials on-site. Restrict access to as few people as possible and maintain access on an as-needed basis. The fewer people are actually able to access your chemicals, the less likely it is that an accident will occur. Restricted access also makes liability much more straightforward.

5. Flammable Materials Are a Whole Other Thing

Don’t forget that flammable materials should always be handled with additional caution and care. Keep all flammable materials far away from any source of ignition. Keep your flammable materials away from volatile compounds and keep the storage space very well-ventilated so that flammable vapors do not get a chance to build. These are the most dangerous materials in your arsenal, so approach with extreme caution.

Keep Your Business One Step Ahead

Understanding how to store hazardous materials will help you keep your business away from a lawsuit and keep your workers and customers safe. For more expert advice on keeping your business one step ahead of the curve, we have got you covered. Make sure to consult our dedicated business guides to learn more.