How to Safely Store Chemicals on a Construction Site

On most construction sites throughout Australia, there are plenty of dangerous chemicals on site that have the potential to cause serious damage in a worst-case scenario.

These include explosives for demolition, caustic soda, which is regularly used by contractors on new builds, lubricants and fuel for the construction of infrastructure and even paints and glues.

For companies and management teams that run these sites, they have a legal and moral obligation to ensure that these chemicals are safely stored to protect their workers, the general public and the environment.

But how can they best do that?

Here is our guide on how to safely store chemicals on a construction site.

Why is Storing Chemicals Safely on a Construction Site Important?

If not stored properly, for instance, in something like bunded storage from STOREMASTA, hazardous chemicals can cause a significant risk on a construction site, even when they are not being used.

Along with doing major damage to the property and local environment, many can contribute to or directly cause an explosion or fire that can poison, injure or even kill people.

However, the potential of these risks occurring can be exacerbated by some hazardous chemicals not being compatible with each other. For instance, fluorine, which is often used in fluoropolymer coatings that protect metal surfaces from wear and corrosion, is incompatible with pretty much all oxidizable substances, including bleach.

If hazardous and incompatible chemicals mix, it can result in an explosion that releases flammable, corrosive or toxic gases. Hence the need to store them separately and safely.

How to tell if a chemical is hazardous

To be able to store hazardous chemicals safely, it is important to know which one on your construction site represents the biggest threat.

In Australia, the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is used to clearly classify how hazardous any given chemicals are.

The GHS classifications are determined by specific criteria, including how toxic and flammable it is. You can find out more about that here.

It is the responsibility of both manufacturers and importers to determine the level to which a chemical is hazardous and to clearly advise of this through prominent labelling and other safety warnings.

How to Store Hazardous Chemicals Safely

Once you are aware of the hazardous nature of the chemicals on your construction site, you will need to take steps to store them safely.

Here are three ways you should go about doing that.

1. Choose the Right Location for Storage

Where you choose to store your hazardous chemicals is just as crucial as how you end up storing them because they essentially work in conjunction with one another.

For instance, if your storage containers are too near to an ignition source, even if they are ‘proper’ ones, you are still at risk of a serious accident when disposing of or even decanting chemicals.

Where you store them will differ per construction site. However, try to find somewhere that is isolated from the following:

• Sources of ignition from welding or other active construction works
• Drains to prevent contamination of watercourses
• General or public view to reduce the risk of vandalism, theft or otherwise unauthorised access

Once you have found a suitable location to store your chemicals, you will also need to ensure it has good ventilation and separation and segregation from other storage units. If you don’t do this, the significant risk of an accident happening will still remain.

2. Choose a Safe Chemical Storage Solution

With the location chosen, you will then need to identify the most appropriate techniques for storing the chemicals you are keeping on your site.

There are several types available, so it is worth getting professional advice from experts who specialise in providing storage solutions for hazardous chemicals.

That way, you will be able to determine the best one for your needs based on your budget and requirements.

3. Train All Contractors and Employees About the Dangers

On any construction site, but in particular one that houses several hazardous chemicals, it is important to train all your workers as to the dangers of them.

This should involve giving them a full understanding of the chemicals they will be handling and what the associated risks of them are.

They will also need to be shown how to read chemical labels, decant chemicals, and safely enter the chemical store if they are required to do so as part of their job.

In addition, they must be made aware of the safety regulations, equipment and procedures put in place both by the state government and your company.

Lastly, it is critical that a few members of your team know how to administer first aid and that all staff members know what the emergency evacuation procedures are in the event of an accident.