Improper chemical mixing almost always ends in disaster. At the very least, ill-advisable chemical mixing causes a mass evacuation, frightening the public while indefinitely ceasing operations. While the conditions invariably differ in the cause of the chemical mishap, negligent storage practices are usually the common denominator and aggravating factors. Improperly mixing chemicals can create potentially dangerous situations like fires, explosions, and airborne toxic events while threatening the general safety and well-being of afflicted communities. Following industry-standard protocols for storing incompatible hazardous materials mitigates potential disasters while engendering trust and reassurance for safety within your workforce.
Improper Chemical Mixing Creates Hazmat Incident
Thanksgiving is usually accompanied by tantalizing aromas wafting through quintessential American communities. Unfortunately, stifling chemical fumes and vapors overpowered succulent turkey and cranberry morsels as families sat down for their annual autumnal feasts in Pennsylvania. Following a hazardous materials incident last week, three people were taken to a Bethlehem, Pa. hospital. Although a hazmat response team quickly contained the chemical amalgamation by off-vetting gases and neutralizing the byproducts, the holidays will never be the same for residents of the sleepy Pennsylvania neighborhood. While authorities have yet to disclose the inadvertently mixed chemical contents, fire officials warned of the hazards of mixing everyday household cleaners. If a minor chemical incident from mixing bleach and chloride in a bathroom could clear an entire city block, imagine the ensuing mayhem that would’ve enveloped more extensive industrial settings. Compliant chemical storage takes a microscopic approach – no one is immune from chemical perils.
No Residence or Industry is Immune From Hazmat Incidents
Although Bethlehem, Pa. residents still had plenty to be thankful for this year, primarily that no one succumbed to the toxic vapors, the community will likely take a more proactive approach to securing dangerous chemicals. Dangerous chemicals never take a day off, even for the holidays. Never store incompatible chemicals together. Mixing dangerous chemicals can produce hazardous gases and rapid temperature inversions, causing irreparable explosive destruction. Inadvertent chemical contamination could cause highly corrosive chemical mixtures that can degrade containers, including steel drums.
Consult Chemical Labels When in Doubt
Proper chemical labeling and identification prevent most hazmat incidents. Product inventory specialists and applicators should carefully read product labels before using and storing dangerous chemicals. Employees should immediately contact their supervisors if they encounter unlabeled chemicals. Never use an unlabeled chemical. When a supervisor cannot determine the provenance of the dangerous chemical, safely discard the container in an appropriate hazardous waste receptacle. While consistent categorization is crucial, inaccuracies will abound, but proper chemical storage and organization will mitigate egregious storage risks and incidents.
Safety Data Sheets Save Lives
Industrial manufacturers should have readily available safety data sheets for each stored hazardous material. Safety data sheets provide critical information about each dangerous chemical’s potential hazards and physical and chemical properties. While the expansive disclaimer sheets are tedious, understanding inherent chemical risks encourages practical storage guidelines and mitigating risks. SDS also provides appropriate fire-fighting suppression and first-aid measures for dangerous events. These exhaustive chemical cheat sheets list every incompatible material for the aforementioned stored item. A flammable chemical storage warehouse is the ultimate hazmat stopgap, providing continuous storage protection for all chemical stockpiles. Contact us today to learn more about federal chemical storage guidelines and solutions to your workplace’s storage dilemma.