When you’re storing hazardous chemicals in the outdoor environment, there are a range of risks that are unique to outdoor storage. One of these issues is the added risk of theft, vandalism and general misuse of onsite chemicals. When housed indoors, in a chemical storage cabinet or compliant indoor store, chemicals are less likely to be tampered with due to the additional security measures of the premises. Things like secure staff entry, CCTV and lockable work areas means that theft is less likely to occur in the indoor environment. Therefore, when considering your outdoor chemical store, it’s important to think about the ways in which you can minimise unauthorised entry to your store.
In this post, we’ll be detailing how engineering controls, as well as administrative controls, can assist in securing your inventory of hazardous substances.
IMPORTANT: We suggest referring to the Australian Standards, in conjunction with your own risk assessment, to determine the most suitable methods of securing your outdoor chemical stores. You may wish to add further layers of security to your site, to assist with the prevention of theft, vandalism and misuse.
Whether you’re storing flammable liquids (fire, explosion), toxic substances (human harm, environmental damage) or corrosive chemicals (property destruction), there are a multitude of issues that may arise if chemicals aren’t kept in a secure and controlled manner.
Hazardous substances and dangerous goods pose both health and physical hazards, which can result in work health and safety issues, property and vehicle loss, environmental contamination, harm to wildlife and marine life, and more.
Harm to human health, property and the environment can occur if security isn’t effective in your outdoor chemical storage areas.
Some examples of hazards include:
If chemicals are accessed by unauthorised personnel, they can cause harm in many ways. Some of these ways may be intentional (vandalism) and some may be unintentional (misuse, theft).
REMEMBER: Under WHS Regulations, you have a responsibility to control the risks associated with hazardous chemicals. This includes creating a safe working environment where only trained staff are allowed to have access to these dangerous substances.
Dangerous goods can cause incidents through:
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There are a range of controls, including engineering and administrative controls, that can work in unison to reduce the risk of theft at your website. By reducing the likelihood of unauthorised entry, you’re assisting your organisation in a variety of ways, including:
While we suggest that all outdoor chemical storage facilities be equipped with the appropriate security measures, there are several classes of dangerous goods, such as corrosive chemicals, toxic substances and organic peroxides, that have specific requirements that relate to store security.
All outdoor chemical storage facilities should be equipped with adequate security against unauthorised entry.
For example, AS NZS 4452:1997 – The storage and handling of toxic substances, we see requirements that relate to security of toxic stores.
Section 1.8 states:
SECURITY OF STORAGE AREAS: All storage areas shall be appropriately secured from access by unauthorised persons. The storage area shall be considered a ‘restricted area’.
When detailing the construction and type of package stores permitted, the Standard explains that toxic chemicals may be stored in a:
Therefore, when you’re storing hazardous substances, check the relevant Australian Standard for the precise requirements that relate to the security of your store.
REMEMBER: If you’re storing particularly volatile chemicals, there may be further requirements that relate to their security. If you’re storing Class 4 Desensitized explosives, any evidence of attempted forced entry to, or theft of stock or an unaccountable stock discrepancy, must be immediately reported to the police or appropriate authority in accordance with regulation.
While we have highlighted a variety of options for outdoor chemical storage, many businesses opt for chemical storage containers as they’re a more reliable and cost-effective option when compared with custom chemical stores.
Choosing a container that’s been built to meet the Australian Standards means that your business is installing a ready-made engineering control that will actively minimise the various risks posed by your stored chemicals – including unathorised entry.
However, you can also concentrate on inner- and outer-perimeter security measures to bolster the protection provided by your containers.
Measures may include:
While there are many options for outdoor chemical storage, compliant storage containers are generally more cost-effective than custom-made stores which are built on site.
If you’ve been researching drum, IBC chemical stores or DG containers, you’ve probably come across the feature of ISO locking bars. But what are they – are how do they provide security for your stored chemicals?
ISO locking bars refers to the compliant locking system, that’s recognised by the International Organization for Standardization. In Australia, dangerous goods storage equipment manufacturers should comply with ISO Standards, so their equipment provides safety and compliance. Adhering to these standards allows manufacturers to produce equipment that meets safety standards and provides the highest quality product to the customer.
ISO locking bars are a specific type of locking mechanism that’s fitted on our range of outdoor chemical storage containers. More sophisticated than a lockable handle that you may find on an indoor cabinet, the locking bars for outdoor containers offer maximum protection against unauthorised entry.
ISO locking bars are constructed to meet the highest standards of security for outdoor chemical stores.
Constructed from steel, the mechanism locks down both container doors in one single motion, and offers protection against any type of attack, including bolt cutters, hammers, crow bars and saws.
IMPORTANT: We manufacture our full range of outdoor chemical storage containers with ISO locking bars — regardless of the dangerous goods class of the container. This is to offer the best protection for businesses who may be susceptible to unauthorised entry of their outdoor chemical storage areas.
In addition to the engineering controls put in place to secure outdoor stores, there are some further suggestions to increase the security of your hazardous chemical storage areas. Administrative controls are designed to work in support of elimination, substitution and engineering controls, as per the Hierarchy of Controls.
Administrative controls are designed to minimise the remaining risks, after considering the elimination of hazards, the substitution of hazardous chemicals, and the engineering controls to reduce risk.
You may adopt a range of administrative controls to bolster the security of your outdoor chemical storage. These may include:
Would you like to learn more about reducing risk in your chemical stores? The first step is to conduct a risk assessment on your hazardous chemicals.
To find out more about the risk assessment process, download a copy of our helpful guide. It's full of practical advice and expert tips, so you can help create a safer working environment at your site.