The Ultimate Hazmat Inspection Checklist: Proper Hazmat Labels, Storage Tips and More
- By Cory Levins
- 1 ago 2019
Hazardous materials inspections are an essential part of hazmat safety. They might be conducted via internal audits, non-governmental authorities like the IATA or a government agency, but no matter who’s in charge, the stakes for your business can be quite high.
What are the most important steps to take to pass your hazmat inspections? What key best practices can you rely on to stay in compliance and maintain safety? Air Sea Containers has been an industry-leading hazmat solutions provider for over 25 years, so we know our way around an inspection. Using these seven categories as a foundation, you can develop your inspection plans and hazmat procedures in a way that’s safer, more effective and more satisfying to inspectors.
Labeling every substance—whether hazardous or not—is one of the simplest and most effective steps you can take to improve safety. Wherever possible, try to keep substances in their original bottles with their original labels, and make sure you’re also labeling other bottles they may be dispensed into. Any substance packed for transport also needs to have hazmat labels showing its GHS transport class.
Each type of hazardous material has its own unique guidelines for how it needs to be stored and maintained. Consult your Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for specific guidance on how to safely store each substance.
For flammable and explosive chemicals, Air Sea’s flammable safety cabinets are an ideal place to start. They’re constructed from double-walled steel and include all of the latest safety features such as doors that automatically seal in fire conditions, adjustable shelving and a leakproof sump in the bottom to collect spills and drips.
The safety equipment and PPE (personal protective equipment) you need will depend on what you’re storing, but at a minimum, you probably need:
Consult your MSDS to find out what kind of other safety equipment you should keep on hand. Remember that safety equipment must be easy to access in an emergency and that it should be periodically checked for good order and maintenance.
There’s simply no substitute for good record keeping when you’re dealing with hazardous materials. Detailed information about each substance stored on-site should be easily available.
The Life Safety Box (LSB) system, used at Stanford and other major laboratories around the world, is ideal for consolidating key safety documents and equipment in one place. Each LSB is designed for a specific laboratory or storage unit and contains safety equipment and key documentation including:
Establishing a general state of cleanliness and order in your facilities will go a long way toward keeping your standards high. Disorganization and bad hygiene can easily spiral into an unsafe state of affairs, particularly if chemical residues are allowed to accumulate. Establish a robust cleaning and maintenance plan with specific task delegation to ensure that every employee knows their role in maintaining cleanliness.
When errors and accidents occur, it’s critical to have the right tools to deal with them. First, you need a plan. The American Chemical Society’s spill response planning guide is a great place to start. The Emergency Response Guidebook is also a key resource to have on hand in your facility for up-to-date guidance on specific response procedures.
You should also have secondary containment devices available. Air Sea Containers has a wide range of spill containment products, including hazmat spill trays and sumps and salvage drums that can help you quickly and safely deal with a damaged drum or another chemical spill.
Finally, remember that a key part of hazmat safety is controlling access to materials. Make sure that your facility has a robust hazmat security plan, as laid out in 49 CFR. It should include a detailed plan for risk assessment, personnel screening, preventing unauthorized access, assigning security duties and training.
A hazmat inspection can be a nerve-wracking time for everyone but remember that the inspector’s goal is the same as yours: safety and security for all involved. The steps we’ve talked about today will help you work toward a system that satisfies all fundamental safety goals and protects your employees and your investment. Air Sea Containers is fully equipped to be your safety partner in achieving these goals. Call us at (866) 596-9448 or contact us online to get answers to your questions from our hazmat shipping and storage experts.
What are the most important steps to take to pass your hazmat inspections? What key best practices can you rely on to stay in compliance and maintain safety? Air Sea Containers has been an industry-leading hazmat solutions provider for over 25 years, so we know our way around an inspection. Using these seven categories as a foundation, you can develop your inspection plans and hazmat procedures in a way that’s safer, more effective and more satisfying to inspectors.
1. Labeling
Labeling every substance—whether hazardous or not—is one of the simplest and most effective steps you can take to improve safety. Wherever possible, try to keep substances in their original bottles with their original labels, and make sure you’re also labeling other bottles they may be dispensed into. Any substance packed for transport also needs to have hazmat labels showing its GHS transport class.
2. Proper Storage
Each type of hazardous material has its own unique guidelines for how it needs to be stored and maintained. Consult your Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for specific guidance on how to safely store each substance.
For flammable and explosive chemicals, Air Sea’s flammable safety cabinets are an ideal place to start. They’re constructed from double-walled steel and include all of the latest safety features such as doors that automatically seal in fire conditions, adjustable shelving and a leakproof sump in the bottom to collect spills and drips.
3. Safety Equipment/PPE
The safety equipment and PPE (personal protective equipment) you need will depend on what you’re storing, but at a minimum, you probably need:
- An eye and hand washing station.
- Personal protective equipment such as gloves, goggles and respirator masks.
- A fire extinguisher that’s compatible with the materials you’re storing.
Consult your MSDS to find out what kind of other safety equipment you should keep on hand. Remember that safety equipment must be easy to access in an emergency and that it should be periodically checked for good order and maintenance.
4. Record Keeping
There’s simply no substitute for good record keeping when you’re dealing with hazardous materials. Detailed information about each substance stored on-site should be easily available.
The Life Safety Box (LSB) system, used at Stanford and other major laboratories around the world, is ideal for consolidating key safety documents and equipment in one place. Each LSB is designed for a specific laboratory or storage unit and contains safety equipment and key documentation including:
- Locations of all chemicals.
- Types of hazards present.
- Emergency response procedures.
- Contact information for emergency services.
5. Housekeeping and Cleanliness
Establishing a general state of cleanliness and order in your facilities will go a long way toward keeping your standards high. Disorganization and bad hygiene can easily spiral into an unsafe state of affairs, particularly if chemical residues are allowed to accumulate. Establish a robust cleaning and maintenance plan with specific task delegation to ensure that every employee knows their role in maintaining cleanliness.
6. Secondary Containment
When errors and accidents occur, it’s critical to have the right tools to deal with them. First, you need a plan. The American Chemical Society’s spill response planning guide is a great place to start. The Emergency Response Guidebook is also a key resource to have on hand in your facility for up-to-date guidance on specific response procedures.
You should also have secondary containment devices available. Air Sea Containers has a wide range of spill containment products, including hazmat spill trays and sumps and salvage drums that can help you quickly and safely deal with a damaged drum or another chemical spill.
7. Security
Finally, remember that a key part of hazmat safety is controlling access to materials. Make sure that your facility has a robust hazmat security plan, as laid out in 49 CFR. It should include a detailed plan for risk assessment, personnel screening, preventing unauthorized access, assigning security duties and training.
A hazmat inspection can be a nerve-wracking time for everyone but remember that the inspector’s goal is the same as yours: safety and security for all involved. The steps we’ve talked about today will help you work toward a system that satisfies all fundamental safety goals and protects your employees and your investment. Air Sea Containers is fully equipped to be your safety partner in achieving these goals. Call us at (866) 596-9448 or contact us online to get answers to your questions from our hazmat shipping and storage experts.
