Hazardous Substance Cabinets

In any storage facility where chemicals are stored, there's always a risk of chemical reaction, fire, and ultimately, a buildup of pressure. Due to this, chemical and hazardous liquid storage must be handled carefully as per the guidelines set by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).A safe and secure storage environment is important when it comes to flammable liquids and hazardous materials. This is why a chemical storage cabinet should be installed on every site where flammable substances are present.As part of the Hazardous Storage Guide, we are going to provide you with essential information regarding the use of chemical storage cabinets, spill prevention, as well as general safety and health precautions. Here's a brief overview of hazardous substance cabinets.Hazardous Substance CabinetsHazardous substance cabinets and COSHH cabinets ensure the safe handling, storage, and disposal of substances that pose a health risk to people as well as the environment.Designed to keep dangerous materials safe from unauthorised personnel, they're tough and can be locked. A chemical storage cabinet is essential for anyone who uses products that are flammable, corrosive, poisonous, toxic, harmful or irritant.Besides keeping you, your employees, and your customers safe, they'll also ensure you stay within the health and safety guidelines. Let's take a look at one of the main regulations regarding storage.

What is COSHH and what does it stand for?

COSHH stands for ' Control of Substances Hazardous to Health. It is a health and safety legislation regulated by the government. It is a binding law that all employers must take all necessary steps to minimise the risk of harm from chemicals that they store for use in the workplace. Let's see some of the COSHH substances.COSHH SubstancesThe COSHH Regulations cover hazardous substances such as: chemicals, products containing chemicals, fumes, vapours, mists, nanotechnology and gases and asphyxiating gases.

Cabinet construction

Hazardous substance storage cabinets and COSHH cabinets are made from strong metal and will feature one or two lockable doors. The doors must also display the appropriate labelling which helps to easily identify what hazardous substances are in the cabinet. Inside, there will be a few spill-retaining shelves some may even be adjustable for extra flexibility. Hazardous substance cabinets will be liquid-tight and have leak-proof bases and sump trays for added protection.

Do CoSHH cupboards have to be yellow?

Not necessarily, hazardous cupboards can be yellow, red, green or steel grey, but as a rule of thumb: Yellow cabinets - Generally used for storing inflammable chemicals. Red cabinets - Used for storing poisons, pesticides or other deadly materials. Steel grey cabinets - Used for storing acids and alkalis. Green cabinets - Used for solvents, paints and production fluids.There are also portable cabinets on wheels available where mobile storage of hazardous substances is required. The bright yellow colour makes this ideal for hazardous storage with the yellow representing danger and acting as a warning.Risk assessment is crucialAfter assessing the risks, it will become clear what materials need to be stored in a COSHH cabinet, as well as whether they need to be stored separately. Using specialist cabinets for storage will allow you to meet the requirements of the Health and Safety Executive, which mandates workplace safety.