More than 3 billion tons of regulated hazardous materials are shipped each year. These shipments move across the country on trains, trucks and planes, and are used to fuel automobiles, heat and cool buildings, manufacture and grow food.
To reduce the risks of a hazardous material accident, workplaces should ensure that their safety practices are up to par, and individuals should ensure careful packing of all your belongings. This includes conducting regular training sessions and offering certification programs. It also includes ensuring that chemical containers are suitable and that incompatible chemicals are stored separately to prevent chemical reactions.
Hazardous Materials
When most people think of hazardous materials, they may picture things like asbestos, arsenic and bleach. However, the term actually refers to any substance or material that poses a physical, chemical, radiological or biological hazard that can cause harm to humans and other living organisms. That’s a pretty broad and expansive list, which includes a variety of items found in many workplaces including paints, glues, heavy metals, flammable liquids and pesticides.
While these products are essential in most multifamily buildings and property management offices, they can present serious hazards if not properly handled. Workers must follow strict guidelines when working with hazmat materials, including training and following established procedures. Failure to do so can result in accidents, illness and expensive citations from the Department of Transportation.
A robust emergency shutdown and isolation protocol must also be in place to ensure the safety of employees when working with these dangerous substances. This includes knowing how to shut off valves, close circuits or stop machinery quickly when an incident occurs. It must also involve clear instructions for locating and disabling a fire in order to keep everyone safe.
In addition, a thorough inventory of all hazardous materials should be kept and clearly labeled. It’s also important to use containers that are specifically designed for each product and to separate them based on compatibility. For example, storing acids with bases can be dangerous, and it’s important to always read labels carefully. Additionally, it’s never a good idea to pack hazmat materials with regular household goods. It can put the movers at risk, as well as anyone else who comes into contact with them along the way. Instead, it’s often best to donate these types of materials or take them to a local waste collection site.
Liquids
Most movers frown upon packing liquids, since they pose an inherent danger when transported in a constantly shifting vehicle. However, there may be some that have sentimental value and need to be packed for transport. When this happens, it’s imperative to take the necessary safety precautions. This can be done by creating an inventory of all the liquids in your house, as well as ensuring that they are safe to transport. This includes ensuring that any containers that hold flammable liquids are closed, and that any rags soaked in flammable liquids have been removed and properly disposed of.
If you’re going to be packing any liquids for a move, make sure that they are in containers that can be easily and quickly sealed shut, such as approved 5 gallon containers with spring-closing lids. Those that contain flammable liquids should be tightly closed and secured with tape to prevent any accidental spilling. Also, make sure that the container is clearly labeled as containing flammable liquids so that anyone who handles it knows the proper handling and storage methods to follow.
It’s also a good idea to place a ‘FRAGILE’ or ‘HANDLE WITH CARE’ sticker on any boxes that are containing liquids, so that they can be handled with extra care during the move and once you’re in your new home. And lastly, remember that even a small liquid spill can cause irreparable damage to delicate items. Therefore, you should weigh the pros and cons of packing a certain item against the cost of repairing the item after the move. Usually, the cost of replacing an item is far less than a costly repair bill. So if you have any questions about the safe handling of certain liquids, consult the label, the SDS or your coworkers.
Gases
A gas cylinder is a pressure vessel that stores compressed gases, such as acetylene. These cylinders can be very hazardous as they contain flammable gases at high pressures. They are also susceptible to explosions when handled incorrectly or exposed to heat sources. If a gas cylinder is accidentally dropped, the contents can rupture and cause explosions.
The risk of injury increases with the amount of cylinders that are being transported, the distance between locations and whether they are in an enclosed space. To reduce the risk, it is advisable to transport these cylinders with special equipment such as carts and dollies designed to carry them. These devices can help to distribute the weight of the cylinders evenly and prevent them from falling over, which is a common source of injuries.
Workers handling cylinders of gases should be trained on how to do so safely and must wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) including eye protection when they are working with or transporting them. The cylinders should be marked with their tare weight and their contents clearly displayed on the outside. They must never be tampered with or emptied by other individuals.
The safe transport of these cylinders requires that they be kept away from open flames and other heat sources and should only be loaded into vehicles with the valves closed. It is also a good idea to restrict access to an elevator when these cylinders are being transported, as they can off-gas and create a low oxygen environment which could result in asphyxiation. The cylinders should be labelled to identify the type of gas they contain and it is a good idea to have an emergency plan in place when dealing with these dangerous materials.
Solids
Almost any manufacturing operation that uses powders and bulk solids in its operations must deal with a number of potential hazards. From loss of time due to back strain caused by manually handling these materials to fugitive dust problems that lead to damage to equipment and building structures, these hazards are significant enough to warrant the issuance of significant safety regulations and guidelines.
Any person who transports or causes to be transported in commerce a large bulk quantity of a hazardous material in a cargo tank motor vehicle, portable container, rail car, or aircraft must comply with the requirements of 49 CFR parts 100-180 as applicable. Any interstate or intrastate motor carrier who offers for transportation a large bulk quantity of a hazardous materials in a placarded vehicle must develop and adhere to a security plan pursuant to 49 CFR part 397.
When a person transports or causes to be transported in commerce any material that meets the definition of a hazardous substance, the person must complete and submit shipping papers and maintain a record of the material’s description, identification, and quantity. In addition, the shipping paper must contain an emergency response telephone number that is monitored at all times when a shipment is in transit including storage incidental to transportation. This number must be readily identifiable and must be capable of being reached by someone who is knowledgeable about the specific characteristics of the shipment and the appropriate emergency response procedures.
Whenever possible, these materials should be conveyed with a pneumatic system that is designed to handle them. Even if this is not practical, the use of conductive or anti-static materials should be employed to minimize static build-up that could cause the release of energy which could ignite a hazard.
Chemicals
Many households have hazardous materials in their home, such as propane, cleaning sprays, paint thinner, and other household chemicals. These chemicals are fine for home use, but they pose an unacceptable risk when transported long distances inside a moving van. Therefore, these items must be disposed of properly.
During transportation, it’s important to ensure that the chemical containers are labelled correctly and are in good condition. It’s also important to make sure that the person transporting the chemicals is qualified to do so. The person must also have a copy of the chemicals’ Safety Data Sheets on hand and know what to do in case of an accident.
To prevent accidents and spills, it’s also a good idea to keep the chemicals in their original containers. Certain substances, such as acid and bases, have a heightened threat when moved to other types of containers. Additionally, it’s a good idea to store chemicals on shelves that are made of strong, chemical-resistant materials.
Finally, it’s important to only transport the chemicals during normal business hours so that someone can be available to assist in the event of an accident or spill. It’s also a good idea to store the chemicals in a secure area that is out of the reach of children and pets.
NASP can help you create effective protocols for handling, transporting, and storing hazardous materials. We offer hazardous materials-focused classroom and online training courses and safety consulting services that can elevate your workplace’s compliance profile and save you from costly citations. Contact us today to learn more about how our training can benefit your organization. We can also provide you with the necessary supplies to help keep your workers safe, including everything from personal protective equipment (PPE) to placard replacement kits.