A Quick guide on keeping dangerous goods together in storage cabinet

A Quick guide on keeping dangerous goods together in storage cabinet

When your business or workplace uses or stores hazardous materials by government regulation there must be a proper dangerous goods storage area that adequately minimises or eliminates the risks of having those chemicals.

It’s not a matter of just throwing hazardous substances into a dangerous goods storage cabinet and hoping they will be safe.

This quick guide on keeping dangerous good together in your storage cabinet will assist you in safely storing dangerous goods:

Key risks of dangerous goods storage

• Escape or spillage of dangerous goods

Dangerous goods must be stored in such a way that in the event of a spillage they are contained in a sump or an area where they will not be able to escape or mix with other substance they could react with

• Cross contamination

Dangerous goods must be stored so they are prevented from coming into contact with other stored compounds by physical barriers or because they are in their own spill proof containers

• Self reacting goods

Dangerous goods that are capable of self reacting or reacting when exposed to air or other compounds must be kept isolated from those compounds that could cause a reaction

• Combustible dangerous goods

Goods that are combustible, capable of exploding or can form combustible compounds when exposed to other substances must be kept isolated from those compounds

Before any chemicals or dangerous goods are placed into storage, a proper risk assessment of their dangers and properties needs to be undertaken.

Once the risk actors are known and understood a plan needs to be devised to manage those risks.

All personal that use or have access to any dangerous goods or the areas they are used in, need to be made familiar with the possible hazards involve and the proper ways to use those dangerous goods. They also need to understand the emergency procedures involve in the event of an accidental leakage or spillage and what is personally required of them in such a situation. This may be to leave the areas and go to a specified marshalling area or to take action that is designated.

It’s important to have people who are adequately trained and appointed to take control in an emergency situation.

• Specific dangerous goods storage cabinets

There are different types of dangerous goods storage cabinets available that are designed to safely keep specific dangerous or hazardous materials.

It’s important that you match the correct cabinet with the substances you’re storing

Some compounds may be safe when stored correctly, but become toxic or dangerous when allowed to come into contact with incompatible compounds.

The risk of a serious incident or accident can be increased by having any incompatible compounds stored in the same dangerous goods storage cabinets

All dangerous goods storage cabinets for sale in Australia are designed and manufactured so they strictly comply with the Australian Standards and are made for specific types of dangerous goods storage requirements.

Wssa is a Dangerous Goods Storage Specialists based in Queensland, Australia.