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Chemicals play essential roles in modern life. They are used in virtually all industries, including medicine, agriculture and manufacturing. Despite their many useful applications, chemicals, particularly in their raw states, can be extremely dangerous. If mishandled, they can cause serious damage to the natural environment and people’s health.
Before we begin discussing how to properly manage chemical hazards in the warehouse, take these considerations into account:
- Chemical hazards are broken into nine different categories that pose different physical or health dangers.
- You must identify the hazard classifications to determine its storage requirements.
- Create a safe storage and transport plan, ensuring you have the right equipment and technology.
- Regularly monitor processes and uphold safety standards.
If your warehouse is involved in chemical handling, you not only have a moral responsibility to maintain safe procedures, but you must also adhere to legal obligations. The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), set out by the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administrations (OSHA), classifies chemicals and their hazard information via labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) to help U.S. businesses safely manage and handle hazardous materials.
While managing volatile substances can prove tricky, knowledge, training and resources make the process much easier. Let’s look at how to manage chemical hazards in the warehouse.
What Is a Chemical Hazard?
A chemical hazard refers to the attributes of a substance that gives it the potential to cause harm to a person or the environment. Chemical hazards pose either a physical or health threat.
A physical hazard is when there is scientifically backed-up data that a chemical is a combustible liquid, a compressed gas or an explosive, or that it is flammable or potentially unstable in any other way.
A health hazard is when scientific information proves exposure to a particular chemical causes acute or chronic adverse health effects.
Chemical hazards are broken into nine different classifications, and they all have further subcategories. Identifying the class of a chemical is the first step in effectively managing it in your warehouse.
Use a Hazmat Locker to Safely Store Hazardous Materials
Identifying the Hazard Classification
Identifying a chemical’s hazard classification is essential, as it allows you to determine its hazardous properties. Each chemical classification poses different physical or health risks. Individual chemicals within each class may pose more specific dangers.
All hazardous substances are transported with a Safety Data Sheet (SDS). This is a standardized document explaining the chemical’s health and environmental dangers and the recommended method for storing, handling and transporting it. By law, chemical manufacturers must pass on hazard information through an SDS.
Identify the hazard classification by checking the SDS that comes with a batch of chemicals. You must also ensure you have the necessary certification to store and handle various categories of hazardous chemicals.
The nine categories of hazardous chemicals include:
- Explosives
- Gases
- Flammable and combustible liquids
- Flammable solids
- Oxidizers, organic peroxides
- Poisons, toxic and infectious substances
- Radioactive materials
- Corrosives
- Miscellaneous hazardous materials
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Determine the Storage Requirements for Chemicals
Once you are familiar with the nature of the chemicals and the potential hazards, you must determine the most suitable storage method.
There are recommended storage methods for each type of chemical, such as storing it in a tight head steel drum. However, it’s also essential to assess the risks involved. You need to implement safety precautions in the storage facility to prevent unnecessary damage. For example, a spill tray is a simple piece of safety equipment that can prevent accidents from getting out of hand.
Automated processes combined with ventilation and environmental control systems create a safer facility when handling hazardous materials. Fire prevention strategies should also be implemented, including an automatic fire suppression system and various fire extinguishers for small chemical fires, such as clean agent, foam and ABC powder, depending on the type of chemical causing the blaze. Fire extinguishers should be located in easily accessible areas, and all employees must be trained in how to use them.
Workers must also be aware of permissible exposure limits (PELs). These are recommendations (detailed on the SDS) explaining the maximum chemical exposure levels workers can handle. Overexposure can cause serious health issues, depending on the chemical.
A Spill Tray Protects the Warehouse if There’s an Accident Involving Chemicals
Create a Plan to Uphold Safety Standards Continuously
It is not enough to implement proper safety standards for the arrival of chemical goods. You must also manage storage and distribution safely. This can be done by carrying out regular safety inspections and performing frequent risk assessments.
The number of inspections and assessments carried out depends on the warehouse’s size, the type of chemicals you store and the number of chemicals. Create an inspection schedule to detect risks and address problems before they occur. If risks are detected, increase the assessment frequency.
Investing in warehouse management systems (WMS) and chemical hazard equipment can help to uphold safety standards. A WMS is used to manage workflow, assign equipment in warehouse areas and provide real-time alerts or warning reminders to workers performing activities in potentially dangerous sectors.
A hazmat locker is a useful investment for the controlled storage of harmful substances, particularly if equipment is being used nearby.
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Continued Management of Chemical Warehousing
All chemicals pose varying degrees of threat, so employees must understand how to manage chemical hazards in the warehouse. Vigilance and continued management of warehouse processes are critical in creating a safe environment. Having the right storage equipment is not only recommended but is a legal requirement.
To ensure you have all required storage materials for your warehouse and transportation, contact Air Sea Containers. We stock a variety of storage materials for hazardous materials that meet the stringent OSHA safety standards.
