As stated in our previous post about dangerous goods, this type of cargo is so called because of their dangerous nature and potential for health and environmental damage among others. That’s why hazardous materials must follow specific rules and regulations for safe storage and handling.

How to store dangerous goods

Dangerous materials storage depends, mostly, on their classification and it must follow the assigned safety regulations to minimize any potential risks they may present. In Spain there are many government regulations for the protection of employees’ health and safety, the one specifically regulating chemical substances storage is the APQ-10 document, last updated in 2017.

But remember, as we’ll see shortly, safe hazardous goods storage involves more than the products themselves, you have to make sure the dangerous materials zone is correctly identified so people are aware of the nature of the cargo there.

Watch our new video for the main elements a dangerous materials warehouse must have

Storing dangerous materials without following their safety needs can trigger modifications or deteriorations, making the materials even more dangerous.

That’s why warehouses must be certified to handle dangerous cargo, not any warehouse will do.

Specific needs for Dangerous Materials Warehouses

Entre las características y necesidades específicas que debe tener un almacén de carga peligrosa encontramos:

• Separation: Specific storage spaces are needed depending on the items classification.  There are materials more stable than others  and substances than can violently react when in contact with others, that’s why it is so important to know with which kind of dangerous material one is working with.
• Protection: A risk prevention system is vital, mainly fire prevention (sprinklers and fireproof doors) and good ventilation systems, for employees’ safety as well as your installation’s. Maintaining a separation of 20 feet between reactive materials is also a good protective measure, as well as using other inert materials in between.
• Signaling: As previously said, each product must be correctly labeled so everyone knows their characteristics and risk potential. Dangerous cargo must always be accompanied of an information label and Safety Data Sheet. These will not only help at storage and handling but also to control quantities, volumes and the life of each product so they don’t age and turn more dangerous.
  Cuando una carga o zona posee varias etiquetas, prevalece la que suponga medidas y restricciones más severas de almacenamiento y seguridad.
  and each storage zone adequately signaled.
• Maintenance: Warehouses must be clean and in good condition to avoid deterioration and damage, as well as accidents like falls or collisions among employees or dangerous substances which can be fatal.

It’s also important to have in mind training and informing all employees of what’s going on in the warehouse as well as having an updated emergency plan.

Our hazardous material warehouse

In TransGlory we take safety very seriously, be it regarding our employees, our installations or our client’s cargo. That’s why in our warehouse in Barcelona we have a licensed space of 500sqM for hazardous materials, to offer better and safer services.