Although compliant chemical storage should mitigate most industrial worst-case scenarios, mass evacuations from sudden hazmat incidents aren’t always possible, especially for employees. Sudden, large explosions can catch even prepared workers off-guard, placing them at the nexus of chaos. Chemical safe rooms can temporarily shelter vulnerable staff from proximity blast radiuses and residual fallout. Not to be confused with our fire-rated hazmat warehouses and lockers, chemical-safe rooms are a readily available stopgap, not a first-line defense against violent chemical explosions and fires. Originally designed for industry-leading storm and tornado protection, these steel-welded shelters can double as chemical safe rooms until further evacuation is possible.
Which Industries Might Need Temporary Sheltering?
High-impact use and heavy industries require a comprehensive emergency response plan for sheltering workers. Every jobsite or manufacturing facility is littered with potential hazards. Our chemical-safe rooms can provide welcome relief when evacuation is limited. Chemical manufacturers, mining operations, petrochemical facilities, and construction industries could benefit from temporary shelters. Industrial tornado shelters are de facto chemical safe rooms and should only be used as such when disaster escape is more perilous than sheltering in place.
Fortified Industrial Buildings Could Double as Damage Control Stations, Chemical Safe Rooms Within Designated Parameters
While project managers and supervisors should delineate tornado shelters for either storm or hazmat employee protection, other building options exist for anticipating safety needs for similar disasters. Our standalone chemical storage lockers could also serve as an emergency response or damage control repair stations. Although our shelters are nationally renowned for protecting workers, their intended use should not be conflated with other chemical storage needs. Delineation is crucial for project inventory management and employee safety. While tornado shelters can be used as temporary shelters for movement-restricted hazmat events, managers should never store dangerous chemicals in a unit designated for natural or chemical disasters.
What is a Damage Control Repair Station?
A damage control repair station is a fire-rated chemical storage locker where designated staff can store and maintain personal protective equipment, fire extinguishers, and other disaster tools to remediate dangerous chemical fires within 300 feet of the staging area. A DCR prep station is a large, steel-reinforced Connex box with emboldened safety features and explosion-proof paneling. Although a tornado shelter can double as a chemical-safe room in limited situations, employees should not use it for chemical storage. Likewise, DCR stations are unsuitable for employee sheltering and equipment storage.
Superior Onsite Tornado Protection
There’s no off-season for tornadoes. More than a thousand storms strike Tornado Alley and the Deep South annually. Our tornado shelters are designed to withstand 250-mile-per-hour wind driven debris and wind gusts. Tornado shelters and community safe rooms can protect significant workforces without impeding daily operations. Moreover, they can be easily placed and relocated, depending on need. While staff can store store PPE and other life-saving devices in improvised chemical safe rooms, employees should avoid placing heavy equipment in tornado shelters.
Determining Applicability in Mitigating Disasters While Safeguarding Staff
Understanding chemical storage and safety shelter uses is nuanced. Respective state and local ordinances determine applicability and limitations. No two storage or safety needs are the same. What works for one manufacturer in one state could dramatically differ from safety and storage solutions in another. Consult with an experienced and knowledgeable U.S. Hazmat building advisor or local building inspector before using a chemical storage locker or safe room for purposes other than the intended purpose. Contact us today for a free quote and consultation!