Is your organization training employees to follow industry best practices regarding solvents? Taking care of any type of solvent is important for a company to keep top of mind. There are certain ways to ship, store and package solvents to ensure safety for employees, visitors and members of the local community.
We’ll explore the best practices for handling and storing solvents without causing issues for your business.
Safeguarding Employees Working With Solvents
With employees routinely working with solvents in industrial and manufacturing facilities to degrease and clean equipment, get rid of paint or dissolve substances, manufacturers need to ensure they know how to handle toxic materials, such as:
- Benzene
- Methyl ethyl ketone
- Perchloroethylene
- Toluene
- Turpentine
Workers should be aware of the nature of the chemicals they are using, including if they are nonflammable solvents or flammable.
They should store solvents in a fire-resistant container that has a self-closing lid that you should clearly label the container. When not in use, do not stack solvent containers on top of each other. OSHA allows you to stack two containers if they are separated by a pallet.
Keep containers away from combustion sources and direct sunlight.
Types of Carriers for Solvents
Remember to select the appropriate carrier when it’s time to ship solvents. Ground shipping providers such as USPS, FedEx and UPS allow some solvents to ship, but you’ll need to contact them for specific details about any limits to materials, as well as sizes and weight specifications for different carriers.
For shipments you make by sea or air to international destinations, you’ll need to work with a specialized cargo carrier or freight forwarder, keeping in mind that more paperwork will be involved than if you were confining shipments to within the United States.
Above all, select a carrier that has sufficient experience transporting the solvents you work with primarily, and has an exemplary safety history.
Solvent Regulators
The Department of Transportation regulates ground transportation of solvents, while the International Air Transport Association covers solvents that your organization ships by air. When your solvents move by water, they’re regulated by the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.
Solvent Storage Protocols
Keep worker safety in mind and avoid preventable mishaps by following the right protocols for storing your company’s solvents. Tag all solvents with their name and hazard category. Workers need to know at a glance, for example, if the solvent is toxic or flammable. Employ spill-out trays to maintain control during leaks. Ventilate the storage room and keep the containers sealed tightly.
Review what you are currently storing, and remove any extraneous materials, such as substances that might react with the solvents. At the same time, check for other hazardous chemicals that you don’t need and take them out of the solvents’ supply area.
Reminder: When discarding solvents that are no longer useful, keep them in separate containers instead of pouring them into one common container prior to disposal.
Make Sure Workers Are Aware of Their Duties for Handling and Storing Solvents
The weakest link in your safety system is the employee who isn’t fully trained or aware of the importance of following industry best practices when it comes to handling and storing solvents.
It’s crucial to underscore safety duties to new recruits during the onboarding process, as well as review your protocols periodically to verify workers are all on the same page. Doing so helps protect your bottom line as well as the safety and health of workers and members of the community.
SOURCES
https://simplesolvents.com/simple-solvents-blog/shipping-solvents/
https://blog.idrenvironmental.com/how-to-protect-employees-with-proper-solvent-storage-and-handling
https://www.ask-ehs.com/blog/safe-handling-of-industrial-solvents/