Did you know there are 3.1 billion tons of hazardous materials shipped around the world every year?
When you're working with hazardous
materials, it's important to practice proper safety precautions. This
ensures that nobody is injured due to mishandling of the chemicals. But,
not many people are aware that hazardous materials are just as dangerous when
they're stored as hard when they're handled.
That's why you need to be aware
that's how to handle storing hazardous materials. Since the list of potential
hazards that come with improper handling of these chemicals is nearly infinite.
It can be tricky trying to identify what exactly could go wrong.
So, if you're looking to learn more
about how to handle hazardous materials properly, we've created this quick
guide to help you get a good idea of how to safely handle these materials. Keep
reading to learn more!
Not
All Chemicals Should Be Stored Together
You need to know that not all
chemicals can be stored together. If there's a possibility of a reaction if two
chemicals combine, you should take the same precautions in the instance that
there's a spill. The only way that you can determine what chemicals are safe to
store together is by figuring out what interactions could develop if they're
combined.
For example, you should never store
acids with cyanide, because of the hydrogen cyanide gas that's created. If you
aren't sure about the compatibility of different types of chemicals, you can
always check out a safety data sheet. If you don't have access to a safety data
sheet immediately, contact the supplier you're purchasing your chemicals from
to immediately get access to one.
Choose
A Proper Storage System
In addition, it's important for you
to determine a proper storage system for your chemicals. There are some
chemical containers that should be stored lower to the ground to reduce
possible risks. If you were to put a chemical that's extremely hazardous on a
high shelf, it increases the risk of a chemical spilled or dropped.
Plus, you want to ensure that the
storage unit that you're using is able to handle the weight of the chemical
samples you're dealing with. You don't want the storage unit to collapse
underneath the weight of all of the samples you have on the unit. If this were
to happen, it's important for you to learn about spill containment procedures to ensure your safety.
Reduce Access
Lastly, it's important for you to
consider who should and shouldn't be given access to the storage area. Not
everyone needs access to the place where you're storing potentially hazardous
chemicals. By increasing the number of people who do have access to the storage
unit, it increases the risk of a potential spill or contamination.
Understanding
How to Properly Store Hazardous Materials
It doesn't matter if hazardous
materials that you're working on storing are hazardous chemicals or hazardous
waste. It's important for you to ensure there aren't dangerous situations that
arise from improper storage. Storing hazardous materials is inherently risky.
You can manage those risks by following along with basic precautions.
Are you interested in learning more about how to properly store chemicals? Check out our site to learn more!
