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Dangerous Goods Storage

Just about every industry and household stores some kind of dangerous product. As many as 4.5 million facilities in the United States alone store hazardous materials. Around half a million consumer goods qualify as a dangerous good. The effects of improper storage can harm and even kill a person. Thus, dangerous goods are one of the most regulated products in the world.

  1. Identification

    • Dangerous goods, also known as hazardous materials, are anything that can physically harm people, animals, property and the environment, according to the Dangerous Goods International Training Center. Examples of hazardous materials include radioactive materials like uranium, medical waste that can harbor harmful disease and flammable materials like gasoline.

    Function

    • Knowledge about the proper storage of dangerous goods is critical because of the lethal interactions that can happen between dangerous goods of different types. A common example of the danger of two chemicals creating a dangerous reaction is household bleach and ammonia. Separately they are fairly safe, but when combined they can cause an explosion.

    Storing Dangerous Goods

    • The University of South Wales has a few general guidelines for storing dangerous goods. Storage facilities should have proper ventilation and as much lighting as possible. You do not want any vapors stagnating in the air when people walk into the storage unit. You also want them to be able to clearly see any labels or obstructions. Make sure dangerous compounds are in a stable environment; short-term fluctuations in temperature are often enough to break containers or cause chemicals to activate.

    Types

    • Storage of hazardous goods is not limited to long-term facilities, such as in a laboratory setting, but can also include temporary storage such as on a truck or through pipelines. The transportation of dangerous goods in the United States is regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT). The Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulates on-site storage and works with the DOT on transport guidelines.

    Prevention/Solution

    • The best way to reduce the dangers of storing hazardous goods is to reduce the need for them, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. You can often reuse chemicals for their intended purpose. The vapors from dry-cleaning chemicals, for example, can often be collected and reused for another cycle. Hazardous materials reduction can include reformulating a product, such as producing lead-free PVC piping.

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