When you think about dangerous goods storage equipment, the issue of environmental protection may not immediately spring to mind. However, knowing how to properly store and control your hazardous chemicals is key in maintaining a clean, unpolluted environment for us all to enjoy. From the coastline to the rainforests and out to the Red Centre, there are so many ways that we can all work to minimise our impact on the environment.
As a leader in dangerous goods storage equipment, our manufacturing facility operates under a strict environmental policy that aims to reduce waste, lower CO² emissions and protect the natural environment from any negative impacts.
In this post, we’ll be sharing some of the ways that we work to minimise our environmental footprint. Afterall, as a Tasmanian business, we love the natural beauty of Australia — and we want to keep it that way.
Our people are passionate about preserving the natural beauty of Australia.
We’ll also be looking ways that you can help protect your land, waterways and air quality from the hazards associated with dangerous goods and harmful chemicals through the use of compliant chemical storage equipment.
Manufacturing Methods
To limit wastage and energy consumption, it’s important that you get your production method right. At Storemasta, we believe in the lean manufacturing method. This approach to production aims to reduce the timelines within the production process, from the manufacturing processes themselves to the distribution to the customer.
We also adhere to the Just-in-time (JIT) method that continually increases productivity and efficiency, while reducing waste for both the business and the customer.
We are constantly seeking new ways to reduce waste and increase efficiency in our manufacturing process.
In practice, this means that we don’t adopt production methods that create an unnecessary waste of time, materials or resources. This in turn eliminates inefficient practices that result in surplus waste products and extra energy consumption.
DID YOU KNOW? Tasmania is carbon negative? That means that our great state is one of the first destinations to become carbon negative through the reduction of logging.
New Technologies
As manufacturing technologies constantly evolve, we stay up to date with any innovations that can help us reduce energy usage.
We are active in upgrading our manufacturing equipment with more environmentally friendly options, including new industrial robots (powered by lithium-ion batteries) and electric powered machines (which don’t rely on hydrocarbons).
These changes to equipment and machinery alone allow us to save up to 50% on energy consumption, as well as lower our CO2 emissions and minimise the use of harmful hydraulic oil in our manufacturing processes.
We're focused on reducing energy consumption and wastage, so our state remains as pristine as possible.
Our Environmental Policy
Every day across our operations, we’re focused on the importance of minimising our impact on the environment. To achieve the goals of controlling waste and reducing pollution, we take a systematic management approach that involves the creation and revision of standard operating procedures, as well as the implementation and maintenance of our control measures.
The prevention of chemical spills is a crucial part of environmental protection.
We comply with all relevant Acts, Regulations and environmental legislative requirements to ensure that our workplace is free from environmental hazards and health hazards. From our staff to our supervisors and company director, we ensure that any recommendations for remedial action are taken so we can eliminate or reduce environmental hazards.
“One of the great things about our business is that our core product and service offerings help other organisations reduce risk and improve efficiencies when storing hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods. We are proud to have the opportunity of influencing our world towards cleaner chemical management solutions.”
Caleb Urquhart, CEO
How Our Products Reduce Environmental Hazards
When you’re working with hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods, spills or leaks can quickly become incidents that can harm the surrounding community and environment.
Chemical pollution negatively impacts flora and fauna.
Uncontrolled chemicals, such as toxic chemicals travelling down a drain or flammable liquids being thrown in landfill, can harm the environment in a multitude of ways.
Hazardous chemicals can cause:
- Soil pollution
- Harmful vapour emissions
- Toxic poisoning in animals and marine life
- Fires or explosions when flammable liquids ignite
- Destruction of living tissue if corrosive substances spill
- Dangerous chemical reactions with incompatible goods
Everyone at STOREMASTA® recognises that our mission – to help improve chemical safety for workplaces across Australia and the world – directly influences the environment.
Every business that carries chemicals can reduce their environmental impact, so waterways, soil and fauna remain safe and protected.
From large industries to small local businesses, any workplace that uses dangerous goods needs simple and successful solutions that help them control the hazards associated with chemical storage.
Our products are designed and manufactured to meet the highest Australian Standards, and feature a range of chemical controls from liquid-tight spill containment systems to vapour control and fire protection.
Toxic storage cabinets prevent spills and contain harmful vapour emissions.
By developing products that are both easy to use and cost-effective, we believe we’re helping businesses protect their staff, their property and their environment.
Some of our solutions include:
- Spill bunding
- Bunded storage
- Bunded handling equipment
- Indoor safety cabinets
- Outdoor chemical stores
- Dangerous goods containers
- Battery charging cabinets
- Temperature-controlled stores
- Lubrication stations
REMEMBER: Before you install dangerous goods equipment in your workplace, we recommend conducting a risk assessment. If your team aren’t able to perform the assessment, please connect with our Dangerous Goods Specialists who can assist with your enquiries.
Recycling and Repurposing
Another benefit of our DG storage equipment is that our sheet steel safety cabinets and outdoor storage containers can be repurposed. In many instances, once the chemical storage equipment has been properly cleaned out and decontaminated, it can be used as a general-purpose cabinet.
Sheet steel may be able to be recycled, and cabinets or containers can be repurposed in many circumstances.
Alternatively, if the construction requirements of your original cabinet mirror the requirements of another dangerous goods class, you may be able to swap the dangerous goods diamond and keep using your cabinet after it’s been thoroughly cleaned and decontaminated.
If you no longer need your cabinet, you can also consider recycling the steel if it’s in good condition. Polyethylene cabinets may also be recycled, depending on your waste provider.
Protect Your Environment
As a company that’s based beautiful north-west Tasmania, we’re continually looking for new ways to safeguard staff, workplaces and the natural environment from the impact of hazardous chemical spills and vapour emissions. But we aren’t just a company that creates DG storage equipment. We’re also a like-minded group of nature enthusiasts, who share a deep appreciation for the fertile rainforests, clean beaches and blue skies that our country provides. Whether we’re taking a stroll on Burnie beach before work or hiking through Cradle Mountain on the weekend, the Storemasta team are all committed to helping keep our country looking picture-perfect.
The seaside town of Burnie in Tasmania.
If you’d like to take the next steps in spill risk reduction, why not access our free eBook? How To Protect Your Business From Chemical Spills details the requirements and regulations that relate to spill containment and offers control measures that can help you prevent harmful substances entering the natural environment.
