Proper Storage of Chemicals
Safe storage of your hazardous laboratory chemicals is dependent
on 2 variables: 1) location and 2) the compatibility of the
types of chemicals needing to be stored. Your goal is to make
sure that chemical containers are stored in places where they
aren’t likely to fall or break, but if they do all results
will be relatively manageable.
For example, storing hazardous liquids below eye level minimizes
the likelihood of exposures to the face and eyes. In addition,
storing chemicals with compatible chemicals decreases the chance
of violent reactions occurring if the containers do break and
the chemicals mix accidentally.
Storage Location: Proper storage locations
for hazardous chemicals refers to shelves, cabinets and sometimes
appliances (like refrigerators or freezers). Examples of improper
storage locations include: the bench top, the fume hood, the
floor, drawers, above eye level, or under the sink.
Compatibility: Compatible chemicals have similar
hazards. Chemicals with similar hazards, if mixed together,
produce mild or no reaction. To avoid violent reactions, incompatible
chemicals with dissimilar hazards should be stored separately.
Determining which chemicals can be safely stored together can
be a multiple step process.
To determine which of your hazardous chemicals you can store
together safely, consult our Chemical
Compatibility Chart.
Additional information is available for specific storage considerations
of:
Flammable chemicals
Combustible
chemicals
Corrosive
chemicals
Toxic chemicals
Oxidizing
chemicals
In addition to the information above, practice the following
guidelines:
1. Distinguish between hazardous and non-hazardous
chemicals.
2. Use the physical state of the hazardous chemical (dry, liquid
or gas) to determine general storage location guidelines:
- Dry, non oxidizing, non flammable chemicals may be stored
on a shelf or in a cabinet alphabetically. Containers of hazardous
and non hazardous chemicals may be stored on the same shelf.
- Dry oxidizing chemicals should be stored in secondary containment
(chemically compatible, usually plastic, container which will
contain the contents of the primary container if that container
breaks) on a shelf or in a cabinet to separate them from other
hazardous or non hazardous chemicals.
- Oxidizers are the only dry chemicals requiring secondary containment,
although you may choose to store some toxics in secondary containment
for safer handling.
- Dry flammable chemicals should be stored in a Flammables
Storage Cabinet with other flammables.
- Hazardous liquid chemicals should be stored in secondary
containment wherever they are stored (shelf, cabinet, refrigerator,
freezer, etc.)
- Flammable liquids should never be stored in a household refrigerator
or freezer. Purchase a unit approved for storage of flammable
material. This is sometimes called “intrinsically safe”
or “flammables storage” refrigerator/freezer. Do
not go to the extra expense of buying an “explosion proof”
unit.
- Follow the Chemical
Compatibility Chart to determine which chemicals may be
stored in the same secondary containment.
- Gas cylinders need to be secured to a stationary object by
a chain or strap two thirds of the way up the cylinder to prevent
them from falling. Best practice is to secure them individually.
In some cases it may be acceptable to secure small groups of
cylinders together. Contact us to ask for guidance
from the ES Laboratory Safety Coordinator responsible for your
laboratory.
- Cylinders of liquid nitrogen should not be stored in areas
that do not have ventilation, such as cold rooms.
3. Use the manufacturers’ container labels, Material
Safety Data Sheets and the Chemical
Use Planning Form chemical list to determine the hazards
of your chemicals.
4. Listed in the table below are the categories of hazardous
chemicals (from the UVM Chemical Use Planning Form chemical
list) commonly found at UVM. This list will enable you to start
to combine location and compatibility concerns.
Chemical Category |
Storage Consideration |
Inorganic Acids |
Store in an Acids or Corrosive Cabinet. Use secondary
containment to separate from other acids and bases. (for
example: organic acids, inorganic bases, oxidizing acids) |
Organic Acids |
Store in an Acids or Corrosive Cabinet and in secondary
containment to separate from other acids and bases. If
oxidizing acids are present move them to the flammables
cabinet in secondary containment to separate from flammables. |
Oxidizing Acids |
Store in an Acids or Corrosive Cabinet. Use secondary
containment to separate from other acids and bases. (for
example: inorganic acids, inorganic bases) Remove ALL
organic material from this cabinet. |
Inorganic Bases |
Store in a Bases or Corrosive Cabinet. Use secondary
containment to separate from other acids and bases. (for
example: inorganic acids, oxidizing acids) |
Flammable and Combustible Liquids |
Store in a Flammables Cabinet (preferably a metal,
commercially manufactured cabinet designed for storage
of flammables) |
Gases |
Gas cylinders need to be secured by a chain or strap
half to three quarters of the way up the cylinder to prevent
them from falling. |
Organic Peroxides |
This material is an organic oxidizer. Store by itself
in secondary containment to separate from other organic
and inorganic chemicals. |
Oxidizers |
Store in secondary containment to separate from other
organic and inorganic chemicals. |
Reactives (Water, Pyrophoric & Explosive Materials) |
Due to the varying characteristics of these materials
contact the ESF for guidance. |
Toxic and Environmentally Hazardous Chemicals |
Store in separate Toxics storage area OR in separate
secondary containment in a Flammables Storage Cabinet.
|
Many chemicals have multiple hazards so make sure you know
all the hazards.
For example:
Butylamine is listed in category 5 of the UVM Chemical Use
Planning Form, “Flammable and Combustible Liquids”
because butylamine’s primary hazard is flammability. However,
an amine is also an organic base. Therefore butylamine is flammable
and corrosive.
For this material the best storage location is within a Flammables
Storage Cabinet but it requires its own secondary container
because of the additional hazard of corrosivity. This is because
it is like flammables in being organic but unlike
flammables in being other than a neutral pH.
For additional assistance or information regarding Chemical
Storage and Compatibility, contact the Environmental Safety
staff via e-mail esf@uvm.edu).
Chemical Labeling
Properly label all chemicals with full English name (no chemical
structures or abbreviations), hazards, date and responsible
party. Proper chemical labeling is an important step in
emergency planning and prevention. In the event of an incident
such as fire or personal exposure, identifying the physical
and health hazards of chemicals can be critical in minimizing
adverse health effects and property damage. Improperly labeled
and/or unidentified chemicals can ultimately end up as “unknown”
chemical waste. Determining the contents of an “unknown”
chemical is an involved and costly process and also presents
unique concerns and hazards for chemical waste handlers and
to the environment. Please take care to avoid creating “unknown”
chemicals in your laboratory.
For the above reasons, it is important to follow all Environmental
Safety (ES) guidelines in reference to labeling. To assist you
in this process, ES offers the following information and supplies:
