The results from improper chemical storage are not arbitrary. The lessons of companies that fail to invest in fire rated chemical storage are numerous. Those who do not learn from the perils of negligence in storage will surely reap the seeds of distraught and chaos for years to come. We’ve seen these hard-earned lessons all too often in the chemical storage industry. Over the years, we’ve documented countless companies that were fined, chastised and ultimately shunned by their communities for not adhering to governmental regulations in storage. Often these fines came far too late, as these companies suffered some type of catastrophic chemical incident that left employees severely maimed or killed while the adjacent communities were left to sop up the mess for years to come.
U.S. Hazmat Rentals can prevent costly recurring fines and repeat offender status
Recently, a Palm Bay, Fla. chemical plant is once again drawing scrutiny for improper storage and skewing safety regulations after an explosion sent shock-waves throughout the chemical manufacturing industry. While the cause of the blast remains uncertain, fire fighters believe it originated from an industrial storage area containing a large quantity of barrels containing an isopropyl alcohol-based solution. No one was injured, but the fallout from the explosion is expected to be immense as the company has a dubious track record when it comes to proper storage and following safety guidelines. The latest blast was the second of its nature at FAR Chemical Inc., which has a history of safety violations. In 2008, a similar explosion killed 60-year-old plant worker, Buck Brown, who had been at the plant for 13 years. Brown was supervising the proper disposals of chemical wastewater when a glass pipe ruptured, killing the veteran worker.
A chemical investigation team later found that Brown’s death was “potentially the result of the failure of facility personnel to follow standard operating procedures.” Prior to Brown’s death, the company a month earlier settled $8,727 in civil penalties from the state for improper labeling of hazardous waste and other safety violations. Other violations have also been reported on-site at the facility, according to clickorlando.com.
Other violations included:
- failing to make hazardous waste determinations on chemicals;
- storing hazardous waste without a permit;
- storing ignitable and/or reactive hazardous wastes at a location within one of its buildings that was less than 50 feet from the property line;
- failing to conduct weekly inspections of stored hazardous waste; and other chemical safety violations. Source: clickorlando.com
Citations from violations, such as the ones at FAR Chemical, are almost always avoidable. Had the plant’s safety engineers consulted with expert storage officials, like the ones at U.S. Hazmat Rentals, they could’ve certainly avoided recurring fines and penalties. At U.S. Hazmat Rentals, we offer various level of superior steel protection in safeguarding dangerous chemicals and other hazardous materials. We provide steel gauge storage solutions for all levels of chemical classification. We provide turn-key, temporary storage solutions in fire rated and non-fire rated protection.
Prevent costly spills that can contaminate the environment and injure employees
Spills will come like a thief in the night. They are silent, yet deadly and can penetrate and permeate every unprotected crevice in your business. If you rely on an inferior storage locker in storing dangerous flammable chemicals such as isoproprly alcohol or fuels, these mixtures will surely find a way to leak from the site and contaminate the adjacent environment. And as to be expected, your company can woefully anticipate a laundry list of fines and civil penalties from OSHA and the EPA. All U.S. Hazmat Rentals chemical warehouses and storage lockers come with the option of a spill sump container. This continuous steel grated flooring system allows spills from chemicals to pass through the floor before being safely collected for future disposal. The sump floor container in each fire rated chemical storage locker is a must-have passive system that relies on gravity itself to prevent contamination and is an easy, cheap and effective method to ensure proper chemical disposal.
U.S. Hazmat Rentals offer simple, turnkey chemical warehouse storage solutions
Why invest in a permanent storage solution when your job-site is only temporary? Within the next few weeks, your work-site is to have likely changed and you will be forced to lug around a sturdy, but large chemical storage locker from town-to-town. Allow the experts at U.S. Hazmat Rentals to do all your heavy lifting. We take your chemical storage needs in consideration before advising an economical, but compliant storage solution. Our chemical storage lockers come in a variety of sizes and levels of protection, depending on your needs. With U.S. Hazmat Rentals, you can enjoy all the benefits of superior protection without the costly overhead. Forklift pockets enable easy relocation and removal from one job-site to the next without impeding your work-flow processes.
Explosion proof electronic complements two-hour and four-hour fire rated protection
U.S. Hazmat Rentals steel plated protected lockers offer complete protection that are also fire, theft, weather and even bullet resistant. In engineering these chemical fortresses, we have created storage solutions that accentuate your workflow. Larger chemical containers are manufactured to allow easy access and removal of chemicals via forklift or hand-truck. Mechanical and electrical ventilation also allows for optimal climate control, so chemical consistency is not compromised in the name of safety. Dry-chemical fire suppression system also prevents fire, if they do happen, from growing out of control before local authorities arrive.
Chemical protection and storage in sizes
We know that no two work-flows or processes are the same. Larger corporations and industries will require larger fire-rated chemical storage lockers. Currently, we offer chemical buildings that come with a drum storage capacity of 12, 27, 42 or 57 barrels. At U.S. Hazmat Rentals, you’ll never rent a locker that exceeds your needs. Our experienced and astute building advisors will carefully evaluate your storage needs before recommending the right size for you.
