Almost every field or industry handles or uses some form of hazardous material or materials. Doing so comes with tremendous responsibility. A facility that uses such materials must know how to employ, dispose of, and store them correctly to minimize risks and prevent contamination, accidents, injuries, or deaths. Here are five essential tips for safe hazmat storage.
Follow Regulatory Guidelines
Some kind of regulation or guideline has addressed everything that can possibly go wrong with hazardous materials. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have outlined thousands of guidelines and standards specifying proper handling, storage, labeling, and disposal practices. You should never consider compliance as a hassle. The rules exist to protect you and your employees, prevent accidents, and ensure workplace safety. Following the rules helps you avoid fines and legal penalties, lawsuits, cleanup and replacement costs, and higher insurance rates. Study up on hazmat storage with these and other agencies.
Select the Right Storage Containers
Obviously, you can’t pick up toxic waste containers at the department store. Consult a reputable hazmat container sales or rental company about the proper ones to use. They must be durable and leak-resistant. They should resist corrosion and extreme temperatures. Clearly, the material making up the containers should be compatible with the substance they contain to avoid negative reactions.
Equip Facilities for Emergency Situations
Choose containers that can resist wind forces of up to 150 miles per hour if your facility is in an area where extreme weather is a common occurrence. Additionally, consider other extreme weather and disaster possibilities for your hazmat storage. Emergencies such as floods, fires, and power outages may disrupt hazmat storage systems and lead to catastrophic risks. Equip your facility with fire detection and suppression systems, seismic restraints for earthquake areas, and backup power generators to maintain security and ventilation systems during electrical outages. Proactive measures such as flood barriers and reinforced building materials can also minimize disaster impacts.
Conduct Routine Inspections and Maintenance
Don’t just store hazardous materials and forget about them. Pay them a visit every now and then to assess whether they’re still safe and sound. Poor maintenance and skipping inspections may lead to leaks, spills, corrosion, and other damage and accidents. Look for signs of wear and tear. Check locks and seals and perform drills and tests of power systems, backup generators, monitors, and other safety devices to ensure they’re working and delivering the right data.
Train Your Team
A smart team is a safe team. Ensure you educate your staff about hazmat emergency plans, safety and protective equipment, and its use. Conducting regular drills and role-playing emergency scenarios also help staff develop safety protocols know-how, and muscle memory. After a drill, discuss what they did right and areas for improvement.
Those are five essential tips for safe hazmat storage. Facility operators will reduce risks, maintain a secure environment, and make their workplaces better places to work by following these tips!
