Chemical Storage Standards

Correct temperature, ventilation, segregation and identification are important when storing chemicals. A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), listing the proper storage information, is available through the distributor or manufacturer and must be accessible for every dangerous chemical being stored.

Inventory and Labeling

• An accurate inventory must be kept up-to-date, and unwanted or outdated chemicals must be removed. Labels must state the contents, receipt, opening and removal dates, health hazard information and the emergency phone number of the manufacturer.

Storage

• Store chemicals together by their hazard class and store each class separate from other chemical families. Chemical families are toxics, highly toxics, corrosives, oxidizers, cryogens, pyrophorics or air reactives, water reactives, explosives, peroxide-forming chemicals, flammables and combustibles. Chemicals are to be stored in approved safety containers; incompatible chemicals should not be stored with or used near each other.

Precautions

• Flammables must be kept away from heat sources, pyrophorics can spontaneously ignite when exposed to air and compressed gas containers should not be dropped. Water reactives can react violently with water, and peroxide-forming chemicals can explode if the cap is removed and is kept off for too long.