Any conventional office don’t deal with hazardous chemicals on daily basis but manufacturing units ad factories, industries do use a host of chemicals and liquids, which when stored in larger amounts pose a threat to both lives and property. One small spark could aggravate and turn into a massive fire. That is what has made storing such potent liquids and chemicals in dangerous goods cabinets a mandatory rule. The minute we hear someone say hazardous material, what immediately comes to our minds is explosives, gasses, petrol and so. We are oblivious to most other dangerous stuff, which apparently looks harmless but are equally lethal.
It is a good idea to check with the relevant authorities if you are not certain about materials you are planning to keep for long term storage. These not only can cause harm to you and me but also have a much worse effect on the environment. Below are categories hazardous materials so personnel handling these must be trained in storage and handling.
- Flammable liquid
- Flammable solid
- Oxidizer
- Corrosive
- Organic Peroxide
- Poison
- Explosive
- Compressed gas
- Cryogenic
- Radioactive
- Biomedical
A safety storage cabinet is not an alternative to conventional fire fighting tools, it is just a means to ensure in case of worst case scenario, and the substances in the containers are protected and would not worsen the already massive fire. The more we aware of our surroundings, the safer we will be and that is why it is important to know what you are dealing with on a regular basis and god forbid if anything worse happens you will at least be prepared for it.
Ensure that your facility is always monitored. Any leaks, escapes, spillage etc must be immediately attended too without delay. No unauthorized personnel should be allowed near the cabinets where the chemicals are stored. Quality of the storage cabinets must not be compromised with at all. They must be purchased from certified and licensed dealers with valid certification and clearance from the respective authorities.