Hazardous, toxic, or dangerous chemicals pose health and safety hazards to your employees and your customers, whatever type of industry your business belongs to. As a business owner, you have to ensure that your workplace or business establishment is protected from dangerous chemicals by storing them properly. In that way, you will have smoother business operations and a safer environment conducive for work, as well as being able to protect yourself from possible lawsuits.
In this post, you’ll learn the importance of storing dangerous products when you’re managing a business.
Keep Your Environment Safe
A safe environment practices strict international safety standards approved by the law, government organizations, and leaders in the industry you belong to. One good example is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA.
The OSHA is a government agency in the United States that helps ensure healthy and safe working conditions. This agency of the US Department of Labor sets and reinforces standards, as well as provides education, training, assistance, and outreach to different businesses or companies.
Whether you have a warehouse, factory, confined spaces, or office cubicles, any presence of dangerous products in your commercial space should prompt you to take extra precautions. For instance, you should find effective and efficient ways to store flammable products, such as using STOREMASTA flammable cabinets.
OSHA highly recommends using a Safety Data Sheet or SDS, which lists important information on safe product handling to promote a safe workplace environment. This list includes:
- Emergency or first aid instructions
- Potential health effects
- Usage precautions
- Safe storage suggestions
- Contact information
Comply with Federal Guidelines for Handling Dangerous Products
The Occupational Safety and Health Act or OSH Act of 1970 covers most employers in the private sector and their employees. It also covers some employers in the public sector and employees in 50 states, as well as certain jurisdictions and territories under federal authority.
The Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines were created by OSHA to help assist businesses in formulating programs to prevent injuries and illnesses in the workplace. This document contains general guidelines that are suitable for all businesses. It is a compilation of the best practices of consultants, associations, health professionals, and other businesses with years of experience in implementing successful health and safety programs.
Here are the four elements of the Safety and Health Program of OSHA:
- Employee Involvement and Management Commitment: This element includes employee and management guidelines they can use to formulate and implement safety policies in the business establishment or workplace. It contains guidelines for goal-setting, delegation, availability of resources, and granting permissions and authority.
- Worksite Analysis: This helps employees and employers identify potential and current job hazards through regular site inspections, including inspection of the storage room and other facilities for dangerous products. Also, guidelines are included on how employees can report safety hazards to their supervisors and managers. In addition, this also includes an analysis of investigated events to determine patterns and trends to help improve the program.
- Hazard Prevention and Control: This element includes hazard control and prevention, such as actionable steps when handling different dangerous products in the workplace.
- Safety and Health Training: All employees are required to undergo training and education to increase knowledge and skills in handling dangerous products, like chemicals, gases, and flammable agents.
Promote a Healthy Workplace
There are many forms of hazardous substances, including dust, gas, liquid, and powder. Exposure to hazardous chemicals, toxic fumes, and flammable liquids that are commonly used in production or workplaces may lead to short-term and long-term health effects, such as skin rashes, lung problems, and poisoning.
By storing dangerous products in approved safety containers and storage facilities, you can promote a healthy workplace. Exposure to these dangerous substances is greatly reduced and controlled. Spills, leaks, and accidents can be avoided.
Peace of Mind
Fire, accidents, and mortality in the workplace are avoided by keeping hazardous substances in appropriate storage containers, cabinets, and other safe storage solutions. Proper storage of dangerous products in your business will give you peace of mind because you know that you have complied with acceptable and proven safety standards.
You can assure your employees, investors, and clients that you have a safe working environment, and everything is under control. You don’t want to risk your business by buying cheap or poorly-made storage solutions. That’s why it is best to invest in superior quality storage solutions for your peace of mind and business’s success.
Conclusion
It’s better to be on the safe side by properly storing dangerous products for your business. Don’t compromise the safety and lives of your employees, and all the people visiting your business’s premises. Follow OSHA guidelines and invest in excellent storage solutions to keep your establishment safe, healthy, and an enjoyable place to work.
