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Many industries – such as pharmaceutical and automotive – use and transport hazardous materials. Hiring a 3PL distribution company can reduce companies’ labor, costs, and legal burdens. However, hiring the wrong company can be worse than performing the chemical management duties in-house. Octochem is a top-tier chemicals distribution solution that focuses on safely receiving, storing, and shipping chemicals as well as creating chemical samples.
Verify and Update the Chemical Hazard Level
Every chemical that enters a warehouse comes with a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) that provides in-depth details on the chemical. Data on an SDS includes flammability level, corrosion level, oxidation risks, melting and boiling points, and specific warnings for storage and handling. Keeping an up-to-date inventory on the types and volumes of chemicals being stored is crucial for warehouse safety.
Design Chemical Warehouses for Maximum Safety
Safely storing materials involves building and maintaining a chemical warehouse that sets safe environments for the stored chemicals. Incompatible chemicals should be separated as specified in the SDS’s. The chemical warehouse should have sufficient equipment in good condition to handle and store the chemicals. The chemical warehouse should have several containers made from strong materials – such as stainless steel or high-density polyethylene – to protect both the chemicals and the workers. Systems to regulate temperature and humidity and to react to emergencies such as fires and spills need to be installed and maintained. And the chemical warehouse should be inspected routinely to confirm safety and compliance with applicable laws and measures.
Ensure That Warehouse Staff Is Highly Trained
The workers at the chemicals distribution solution must be trained to safely handle chemicals, to perform frequent safety checks, and to react correctly to fires, spills, and similar problems. Some chemicals will require some or all of the chemical warehouse’s workers to be certified. Chemical warehouse operators should lean towards excessive training, as an under-experienced or under-educated staff will be more likely to commit an unforced error. And chemical warehouses that are trained to create chemical samples can reduce costs and risks further.
Be Prepared for Emergencies
Chemical warehouses should have emergency plans to respond swiftly and effectively to problems including spills, fires, and explosions. The plans should dictate how workers can keep themselves safe while mitigating the damage from the incident. The plans should also include contact information for regulatory agencies, emergency services such as the Fire Department, and major stakeholders such as the CEO.
Utilize Technology to Save Time and Keep Current
Chemicals distribution solution companies can purchase chemical management software or write their own in-house application to track chemicals that enter and leave their facilities. In addition, tactical use of automation can reduce time and labor while increasing safety when applied to tasks that are either repetitive or require high precision. And keeping current with the latest advances in chemical safety can make a chemical warehouse safer while reducing overhead or facilitate the expansion of chemicals distribution solutions.
Octochem is a 3PL distribution company that caters to companies that work with a variety of chemicals. Our warehouses are equipped and staffed to safely receive, store, and ship many types of chemicals – both hazardous and non-hazardous. We also offer a variety of chemical and biological sample services such as the creation of chemical samples. Please feel free to contact us by filling out our online form.
