Tips for Safely Transporting Dangerous and Volatile Chemicals
As essential as chemicals are for a whole universe of industries, they
can be corrosive, volatile, and dangerous. Failing to transport them
safely can result in considerable damage to property, financial loss,
and serious injury. As such, safe transportation of volatile and
dangerous chemicals isn’t just important for finance and operations, but
also for the safety of staff and local communities. So whether it’s
using a lightweight aluminum hand truck or abiding by a sensible moving schedule, be sure that you’re always safe when moving chemicals.
Depending on what industry you’re in and what chemicals you’re dealing with, you may have to follow regulations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Department of Transportation (DOT), or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Only employees trained in the specific regulations should ever handle dangerous substances. The following are a few general safety tips but do not reflect or replace government regulations.
Ensure the Chemicals Are Secured
Before moving anything, ensure that the chemicals are safe to move. Check to be sure that the chemicals’ containers haven’t degraded in any way. Once the integrity of the containers has been verified, transfer them to leak-proof containers. For instance, if the chemicals are light enough to move by hand, place glass bottles inside a plastic container with handles and place padding between the bottles. If they’re too heavy to safely move by hand, store them in a properly rated box that can be easily stacked on a hand truck or in a hand cart.
Have the Right Tools
Speaking of hand trucks, when moving equipment is necessary, be sure you’re prepared. A traditional hand truck or hand cart is fine for moving chemicals across flat surfaces. However, if moving caustic or volatile chemicals up or down stairs, consider investing in a stair climbing cart. Reducing the chance of spills and any jarring and bouncing the chemicals are subjected to makes the investment well worth it.
Move at the Right Time and Place
As safe as you can possibly be, there’s a wildcard that can still compromise the safety of chemicals being moved—other people. People can crowd, bump, jostle, trip, burst out of doors or up staircases, and otherwise accidentally interfere with a move. The best way to minimize the risk of anyone else inadvertently sabotaging chemical moves is by avoiding them altogether. Use freight elevators rather than passenger lifts when possible. If you’re moving lab chemicals for a university, don’t move during breaks between classes, during lunch, or at any other time when people are likely to be out and about.
Move the Right Way
Many of these tips might possibly sound like common sense, but any job, even jobs with dangerous components, can become repetitive and cause workers to become complacent, lax, or over-confident. However often these moves take place, never move reactive chemicals together. Never transport them with other goods, especially food and water. It’s additionally always a wise policy to examine a cart’s wheels, brakes, and joints to be sure everything is in good working order. The last thing anyone wants when moving dangerous chemicals is to have a wheel come off.
About Magline
Magliner hand trucks are legendary. The Magline brand is one of the most well-known and trusted in the material handling industry. Many people call any hand truck a “Magliner” regardless of the actual brand, but there is no substitute for the quality and durability of the real thing. With more than 70 years of experience, Magline continues to produce the most reliable material handling equipment. Besides their famous hand truck, they produce a variety of specialized equipment such as an electric hand cart line, walk behind forklifts, and u boat carts. For bigger jobs you can use motorized versions of many of their products.
For more information regarding how Magliner products can help your business, visit Magliner.com
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Aluminum Hand Truck
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Depending on what industry you’re in and what chemicals you’re dealing with, you may have to follow regulations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Department of Transportation (DOT), or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Only employees trained in the specific regulations should ever handle dangerous substances. The following are a few general safety tips but do not reflect or replace government regulations.
Ensure the Chemicals Are Secured
Before moving anything, ensure that the chemicals are safe to move. Check to be sure that the chemicals’ containers haven’t degraded in any way. Once the integrity of the containers has been verified, transfer them to leak-proof containers. For instance, if the chemicals are light enough to move by hand, place glass bottles inside a plastic container with handles and place padding between the bottles. If they’re too heavy to safely move by hand, store them in a properly rated box that can be easily stacked on a hand truck or in a hand cart.
Have the Right Tools
Speaking of hand trucks, when moving equipment is necessary, be sure you’re prepared. A traditional hand truck or hand cart is fine for moving chemicals across flat surfaces. However, if moving caustic or volatile chemicals up or down stairs, consider investing in a stair climbing cart. Reducing the chance of spills and any jarring and bouncing the chemicals are subjected to makes the investment well worth it.
Move at the Right Time and Place
As safe as you can possibly be, there’s a wildcard that can still compromise the safety of chemicals being moved—other people. People can crowd, bump, jostle, trip, burst out of doors or up staircases, and otherwise accidentally interfere with a move. The best way to minimize the risk of anyone else inadvertently sabotaging chemical moves is by avoiding them altogether. Use freight elevators rather than passenger lifts when possible. If you’re moving lab chemicals for a university, don’t move during breaks between classes, during lunch, or at any other time when people are likely to be out and about.
Move the Right Way
Many of these tips might possibly sound like common sense, but any job, even jobs with dangerous components, can become repetitive and cause workers to become complacent, lax, or over-confident. However often these moves take place, never move reactive chemicals together. Never transport them with other goods, especially food and water. It’s additionally always a wise policy to examine a cart’s wheels, brakes, and joints to be sure everything is in good working order. The last thing anyone wants when moving dangerous chemicals is to have a wheel come off.
About Magline
Magliner hand trucks are legendary. The Magline brand is one of the most well-known and trusted in the material handling industry. Many people call any hand truck a “Magliner” regardless of the actual brand, but there is no substitute for the quality and durability of the real thing. With more than 70 years of experience, Magline continues to produce the most reliable material handling equipment. Besides their famous hand truck, they produce a variety of specialized equipment such as an electric hand cart line, walk behind forklifts, and u boat carts. For bigger jobs you can use motorized versions of many of their products.
For more information regarding how Magliner products can help your business, visit Magliner.com
