Any industry that uses, handles, stores or manufactures dangerous goods requires DG storage. This could be an indoor Class 3 Flammable Liquids cabinet, an Outdoor Chemical Store for corrosives or a Lithium-ion Battery Charging Cabinet. In most cases, there are a multitude of dangerous goods stored onsite, which all require specific storage controls to ensure health and safety as per the requirements of their class or division. In this post, we’ll list some of the many industries that rely on dangerous goods, from traditional industries such as construction or transport to newer sectors such as IT and technology.
REMEMBER: If you require advice for your workplace, get in touch with our Dangerous Goods Storage Consultants. Every workplace has a unique set of risks that need to be controlled, to keep operations safe, compliant and in line with safety guidelines such as the Australian Standards.
Storage of dangerous goods varies significantly depending on the industry and the specific types of hazardous materials involved.
Some industries which use dangerous goods storage include:
The IT or technology industry, which now relies heavily on equipment powered by lithium-ion batteries, is a segment that has a growing need for Class 9 storage.
REMEMBER: Regardless of the industry you’re working in, the storage of dangerous goods is part of a risk management process. This process typically involves chemical identification, risk assessment, proper labeling and signage, employee training, and compliance with relevant regulations and safety standards to minimise the risk of accidents and environmental harm. We also recommend a risk assessment to start your dangerous goods storage process.
Regardless of the type or quantity of dangerous goods that your organisation is carrying onsite, there is a suitable chemical storage solution that can meet the needs of your workplace.
Storage is not only about decreasing risks in your daily tasks due to the containment and storage of harmful substances, but it’s about the functionality and user experience, decreasing risk through the design and construction of equipment that controls the hazards specific to your dangerous goods class or division.
Look for products that help the users of dangerous goods decrease risk through design functionality as well as chemical controls.
We’ll now highlight some key industries and the recommended dangerous goods storage and handling products that can increase safety and efficiency with these operations.
REMEMBER: If you’d like more information about dangerous goods storage for your industry type, visit our By Industry product guide on the website.
Aged care may not be an industry you immediately associate with dangerous goods and hazardous chemicals, but there is a specific need for certain types of storage and handling products to reduce the risk of chemical exposure in aged care facilities.
Aged care facilities may also require cleaning chemical storage due to the diligent housekeeping practices required of these facilities, as well as gas cages for oxygen gas for residents.
Product recommendations may include:
IMPORTANT: To determine the type of chemical in your workplace, see the safety data sheet. If it’s deemed to be a hazardous chemical, you can see Section 2 Hazard Identification. If the substance or article is a dangerous good, it will be classified in Section 14 Transport Information.
Distilleries and wineries require flammable liquids primarily for the production process. In the case of distilleries, alcohol is a central component of their operations. In wineries, alcohol is produced naturally through the fermentation of sugars present in fruits, primarily grapes. There may also be additional dangerous goods storage and handling equipment required, such as bunding, drum handling equipment, and corrosive chemical cabinets for cleaners and other sanitisers.
Solutions may include:
Storemasta manufactures Class 3 Flammable Liquids stores that are hazardous area IECEx rated with a class 1 zone HVAC system.
The construction industry involves wide range of activities that enables the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of both structures and infrastructure.
Construction involves everything from residential buildings and commercial properties to roads, bridges, dams, and other large-scale infrastructure projects. Due to the need for relocatable storage, outdoor chemical stores that can be easily moved are an ideal solution.
There is a vast amount of chemical types required for golf courses – from garden care products, to water treatments for golf course waterway and Class 3 storage for paints and other workshop products.
Add to this the need for golf cart servicing and repairs, plus general usage of lithium-ion batteries in devices, technology and equipment – and you have a battery fire risk that requires control.
Some recommendations for DG storage may include:
The Buggy Man shares his experience with a lithium-ion battery fire at his repair shop for golf buggies in NSW, and what he's now doing to mitigate risk.
Manufacturing often requires the use of mixed classes of dangerous goods, so a mixture of indoor storage and outdoor storage may be required. The manufacturing process may also rely on Class 2 compressed gases, which require compliant storage to reduce the likelihood of chemical exposure through accidental release, flammable gas ignition, and cylinders becoming dangerous projectiles.
The IT and technology industry has seen a rapid rate of increase when it comes to the need for dangerous goods storage. In particular, it’s the risk of lithium-ion battery fires.
The transport industry is an industry that has typically relied on a wide range of dangerous goods storage products to keep operations running safely. With a mixture of fuels, oils, paints and cleaning products, plus repair activities including welding, there are a range of hazards that must be controlled.
The process of selecting dangerous goods storage doesn’t have to be a complicated one. If you require further information about dangerous goods and the options for safe and compliant storage and handling solutions, why not access our eBook. The Ultimate DG Storage Handbook takes you through all the dangerous goods classes and divisions that you may find in your own workplace and offers a range of indoor and outdoor storage products that will meet your needs for chemical safety and storage. Get a copy of our popular eBook today for just $6.99+GST. It’s a small price for maximum site safety.