Dangerous Goods Storage for Australian Emergency Response

We can all agree with this truth – danger is omnipresent. Whether we are at home, out with our friends, or in our workplace, danger is in everything that we do, waiting for a trigger. Today, we are going to talk about what dangerous goods are, the danger it can pose, and how we can protect our people and property in the workplace.

Dangerous Goods: What Are These Exactly?

One of the most common workplace dangers comes from the mishandling of dangerous goods. But what are Dangerous Goods? These are objects or substances – in the form of gases, liquids, or solids, which can pose detrimental effects to people, property, and the environment. Dangerous goods comprise substances that are either spontaneously combustible, corrosive, explosive, flammable, oxidizing, toxic or water-reactive.

Types of Dangerous Goods

The Australian Dangerous Goods Code, in pursuant to the United Nations (UN) Model Regulations, establishes all hazardous substances into nine (9) different dangerous goods classifications according to their chemical and physical properties, as well as the risks that they present.

As the Australian Dangerous Goods Code states: “Substances (including mixtures and solutions) and articles subject to this code are assigned to one of nine classes according to the hazard or the most predominant of the hazards they present”. Some of these classes are subdivided into divisions. These classes and divisions are the following:

Class 1: Explosives

• Division 1.1: substances and articles which have a mass explosion hazard
• Division 1.2: Substances and articles which have a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard
• Division 1.3: Substances and articles which have a fire hazard and either a minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both, but not a mass explosion hazard
• Division 1.4: Substances and articles which present no significant hazard
• Division 1.5: Very insensitive substances which have a mass explosion hazard
• Division 1.6: Extremely insensitive articles which do not have a mass explosion hazard

Class 2: Gases

• Division 2.1: Flammable gases
• Division 2.2: Non-flammable, non-toxic gases
• Division 2.3: Toxic gases

Class 3: Flammable liquids

• There are no sub-divisions for Class 3 flammable liquids.

Class 4: Flammable Solids; Substances Liable to Spontaneous Combustion; Substances Which, On Contact with Water, Emit flammable Gases

• Division 4.1: Flammable solids, self-reactive substances, and solid desensitised explosives
• Division 4.2: Substances liable to spontaneous combustion
• Division 4.3: Substances which in contact with water emit flammable gases

Class 5: Oxidising Substances and Organic Peroxides

• Division 5.1: Oxidizing substances
• Division 5.2: Organic peroxides

Class 6: Toxic and Infectious Substances

• Division 6.1: Toxic substances
• Division 6.2: Infectious substances

Class 7: Radioactive Materials

• There are no sub-divisions for Class 7 Radioactive Material.

Class 8: Corrosive Substances

• There are no sub-divisions for Class 8 Corrosive Substances.

Class 9: Miscellaneous Dangerous Substances and Articles

• There are no sub-divisions for Class 9 Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods

Among the classes of dangerous goods mentioned, the most common that are used and kept in workplaces include acids, paints, pesticides, petrol, and solvents. Workplace incidents involving dangerous goods have the potential to cause severe or fatal injuries to people. It also poses large-scale destruction to workplace property, nearby establishments, and the surrounding environment.

Handling and Storing Regulations of Dangerous Goods for Australian Business Premises

Regulations for handling and storing dangerous goods are designed to prevent accidents. Business premises that use or store dangerous goods must comply with the regulations.

If you are running a business, it is advised that you have your dangerous goods stored in appropriate goods storage cabinets, separating dangerous goods that may react when stored together. Additionally, dangerous goods storage cabinets also differ in shape and size, so it’s important to select a storage solution that has the proper size and maximum volume capacity for your storage needs.

Unsecured dangerous goods can be a risk to your business, your staff, your neighbours, and the environment. You need to have safe storage and handling systems that integrate safe designs while possessing the highest possible standard.

When you are knowledgeable about how injuries occur in the workplace, you can put in place prevention measures. This is our aim at Wholesale Safety Storage Australia, where all of our products are manufactured right here in Australia, for Australian conditions, for Australian people.  All of our products meet Australian Standards, and we stand by that with a 100% guarantee.

We have safe storage solutions for all your dangerous goods. You can choose from a wide range of shapes and sizes to suit your location, type, size, and quantity of containers to be stored.

Not only is investing in dangerous goods storage an effective way to prevent unfortunate accidents, but it is also required by the national and local workplace codes in Australia. Always remember, it is by keeping your employees safe that you can ensure a happier and more productive workplace. At Workplace Safety Storage Australia, we create safety storage products that address specific hazards in your workplace.

To learn more about what we do, make sure to check our website: https://wssa.com.au/