How do colder months affect chemical storage in the workplace?
As winter approaches and colder temperatures start to hit, it’s worth remembering that climate has an impact on quality and safety.
Quality control
Temperature control is a critical factor when storing quantities of valuable products such as solvents, adhesives and coatings. It is essential in many industrial processes to maintain the optimal temperatures for these products to obtain the highest product quality for goods produced. For processes such as paint mixing, adhesive appliances and ingredient storage – companies need correct temperature controlled storage that is both compliant and fit for purpose.
Chemstore specialises in the manufacture of bespoke temperature controlled chemical stores that can be designed specifically for your product requirements.
For more information, just contact one of our sales team today and get prepared for the winter ahead. Call +44 20 8704 1807 or email sales@chemstore.co.uk
Chemstore is pleased to announce the appointment of AllMaritim as its Preferred Partner for the Norwegian market.
Both companies will work together to deliver Chemstore’s industry leading hazardous materials storage systems to clients across a variety of industry sectors in Norway where AllMaritim has a proven reputation and track record.
Speaking at the appointment Neil O Carroll, Chemstore CEO commented; “We are delighted with this announcement. The oil and gas sector is one where there exists a definite value proposition for our products and AllMaritim is a recognised key supplier to this industry in Norway with an established client base. I also believe that AllMaritim provides a close cultural fit to Chemstore and look forward to working together to build our business in that region.”
Already a leading supplier in the UK and Ireland this appointment represents another significant development in Chemstore expanding its reach into mainland Europe. Increasingly stringent environmental and safety regulations continue to drive the need for organisations to improve how hazardous materials are stored and managed. Chemstore’s Firevault range of products provide clients with a state of the art suite of solutions to address these risks across a wide variety of applications.
Pictured at the signing of the Distribution Agreement are Neil O’ Carroll, Chemstore CEO and Ann-Heidi Leine, Sales Manager AllMaritim.
Commenting on their appointment, AllMaritim Managing Director Trond Dale said; “We believe that Chemstore’s products will add substantially to AllMaritim’s existing proposition to customers. We are particularly strong in the oil and gas sector where our spill response and recovery solutions are well established. We are excited about the opportunities in this and other sectors where we are active such as construction, mining and also pharmaceuticals.
Chemstore made history in 2015 with the launch of its DNV 2.7-2 certified Firevault product specifically for demanding offshore oil and gas applications. It became the first Irish supplier of HazMat storage systems to receive ISO 9001 accreditation in 2012. The company has expanded its manufacturing capacity on two occasions and now operates from a 15,000m2 facility in Limerick, Ireland.
2017 promises to be another exciting year in the company’s growth and development with additional significant product launches planned, and further expansion of its global footprint into overseas markets.
About Chemstore
Headquartered in Ireland Chemstore is a recognised leader in the manufacture of storage systems for hazardous materials and mission critical equipment. Over its 23-year history the company has grown to establish leadership positions in Ireland and the UK with a blue-chip client base across a wide variety of sectors including oil & gas, heavy industry, pharmaceutical, telecommunications and petrochemical. The company operates a manufacturing facility and sales operation in Ireland, with UK sales managed from its subsidiary in London.
About AllMaritim
AllMaritim AS is a leading supplier to the international oil spill response industry and has been active in this sector since 1988. Today the company is recognized in more than 30 countries as providing industry leading oil spill response and recovery solutions to customers. AllMaritim AS is supported by two main manufacturers, NOFI Tromsø AS and Noren Bergen AS who supply a complete range of complementary products comprising oil containment booms and oil recovery systems, respectively. AllMaritim is a proud supplier of products that have made a difference over 25 years.
Contact Details for Press & PR Enquiries:
Chemstore Engineering Ltd: AllMaritim AS:
Clondrinagh Industrial Estate Hillerenveien 82
Ennis Rd. 5174 Mathopen
Limerick Norway
Ireland
Shane O Carroll Maiken Myklebust
Marketing Director Sales and Marketing Coordinator
T: +353 061 327 792 T: +47 5533 6160
E: shaneocarroll@chemstore.ie E:maiken.myklebust@allmaritim.com
M: + 353 87 261 9996 M: +47 95 22 94 93
W: www.chemstore.ie W: www.allmaritim.com
From speaking to our existing clients we repeatedly hear of uncertainty and lack of clear information and guidance on how to identify, quantify and alleviate the risks with hazardous materials in the workplace. Without accurate information we understand it makes it difficult to prepare for the risks and to be aware of what hazards are currently in your workplace.
With that in mind, we are here to enable you with the right information and tools to eliminate the risk.
The following guidance document will make it clear what steps you need to take to create a safe and compliant laboratory.
The use of hazardous and volatile materials is part of daily processes in the majority of labs in universities, research facilities and production plants worldwide. It is currently not feasible to avoid the use of hazardous materials and what is often neglected is unsafe storage of these materials. Improper storage of these materials creates a prominent risk to human life, the environment and the business itself.
Labs across all areas of industry that haven’t undergone an adequate hazardous material storage assessment exhibit common shortcomings. There is often no defined storage system which determines risks with each type of material present in the lab. Such facilities have the following unsafe storage systems and practices:
– Chemicals stored on lab worktops, benches and the floor
– Materials stored on structurally fragile shelves and above eye level.
– Not enough storage space for the hazardous material containers
– Unsafe containers used to store materials e.g. wooden cupboards
– Gas Cylinders located internally within a lab unnecessarily
– Flammables not stored in fire rated cabinets
– Excessive quantities of flammables stored internally within a lab
– Absence of inventory or stock management system for chemicals in the lab
Our team often find when meeting our clients on site that one common practice is forgotten in laboratories. There is often one designated area/cabinet or container for all hazardous materials to be stored internally. Flammables, Oxidisers, Toxic and Corrosive liquids to name a few will be stored together.
Incompatible chemicals need to be segregated according to the hazard classes of each material. This is as important as with an adequate segregation scheme adverse reactions between incompatible chemicals such as oxidisers and flammables can be avoided.
Tips:
– When developing a segregation scheme for chemicals in the lab, your first point to check should be section 2 of the SDS sheets ‘ Hazards Identification ‘
– Ensure you have adequate space in your facility to allow for safe segregation and storage of each class of material.
– Some materials will have more than one hazard associated. In this case you should always identify the address the most prominent risk first.
e.g. Dimethlychlorosilane is both flammable and corrosive. In this case it would be best practice to address the flammable risk as a priority.
There is no doubt that the biggest area for concern our team always highlight with clients is the lack of awareness when storing flammable liquids internally. When carrying out a risk assessment of your laboratory and the hazardous liquids you are using and storing, you should immediately identify the flammable materials. Once you have documented an accurate list, you should then quantify in litres how much flammable materials you absolutely need to store internally in your laboratory.
It is now a legal requirement that flammables must be stored in safety storage cabinets that satisfy the requirements of EN 14470-1.
We would also like to reiterate that where possible the quantities of flammables be kept to a minimum.
Please watch the following video that will certainly portray how the negligent handling and storage of flammable liquids could have serious consequences. Risk is always present when handling and storing flammable liquids, so be the one to act and not react after it’s too late!
If you neglect the above safety procedures when handling and storing hazardous materials in your lab that you are exposing your employees, the public and the environment to untenable risks.
In order to create the safest possible environment in your laboratory the final step you need to take is to create an emergency response plan in the event an accident occurs.This plan should be carefully written and shared with all employees. All tier 1 organisations are legally required produce an emergency response plan to the local authorities as part of COMAH Regulations 2015.
Emergency response plans need to be prepared addressing all four areas above in detail including accident scenarios with the hazardous materials present in you laboratory. Once this emergency response plan has been drafted and approved by the certified body in your organisation, an open correspondence should be opened with the local emergency services and the Health & Safety authorities detailing this plan.
From gathering extensive feedback from our valued client base and extensive research carried out throughout our 23 years in business, we are constantly striving to provide our clients with the tools and knowledge to eliminate the risks associated with hazardous material storage in industry.
A key strength of Chemstore throughout its history has been anticipating and responding to the needs of our clients. Increasing the level of safety in your workplace is where our work begins. We will enable you to reduce risk, liability and downtime on your site. We will take your business beyond the legal requirements for health & safety and social responsibility in your organisation.
With so much uncertainty regarding the historic vote last Thursday 23/06/2016 when the people of the UK decided it was time to opt out of the European Union. A Prominent member since 1975 but much discontent was shared by the 17,410,742 (BBC 2016) people who decided it was time for some major change.
In the aftermath of the EU referendum much has been speculated, there has been some contrasting projections made by experts as to how this decision will affect all areas of the economy, not just in the UK but across the globe.
Here at Chemstore, we have tried to investigate what this historic decision will mean for industry, regulations relating to hazardous materials & workplace health & safety.
Article 50
“Any Member State may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements” (www.lisbon-treaty.org)
Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty has been strongly debated over the last few days, which is the article prescribed as procedure for any member state who wants to leave the EU. Since this article has not been undertaken before, it will be a new process for both sides EU & UK.
The article is a process prescribed over a two year period whereby the UK will negotiate terms with how it will leave the EU and the terms of trade between both the UK & EU going forward. It is still unclear as to how this will influence regulations relating to Health & Safety in the UK. Richard Jones, Head of Policy and Public Affairs with IOSH has stated “Post-Brexit, the UK has now less influence over EU law. Now we’re exiting, it’s vital the UK continues to apply our successful risk-based health & safety system which includes laws from EU directives because it’s been found to be fit for purpose by several independent reviews” (www.iosh.co.uk June 2016)
As article 50 is yet to be enacted by the UK as David Cameron has urged patience but reports today suggest this has aggravated other EU leaders as the European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has urged the UK to “clarify its position” as soon as possible (www.bbc.co.uk 28/06/2016)
Health & Safety Legislation – what will change?
As the negotiations for the UK to leave the EU have yet to begin and as described above will take at least two years to be agreed and enacted, it seems at this point and time that very little will change in short term up to 2018 as a minimum. The main problem is that EU & UK regulations and legislation have become very much intertwined and it’s hard to see how much will change regarding how the UK governs Health & Safety as the current system is working.
The Health & Safety Commission (HSC) which was founded upon the creation of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 “HASAWA” which precluded the UK’s entry into the EU which is the primary piece of UK health & safety legislation. It places the famous emphasis phrase to ensure “as far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work” of all employees in the workplace.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) was created and brought into law in 1988 in the UK but since has been revised to adhere to European Legislation. Listed below are a selection of EU directives have been included in the latest revision of the COSHH regulations 2002 which highlight how UK & EU legislation have merged:
– 78/610/EEC protection to the health of workers exposed to vinyl chloride monomer
– 89/677/EEC, art.1 (3) importation, supply and use of benzene
– 90/394/EEC protection of workers from risks related to exposure to carcinogens at work
The Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)
The REACH regulations came into force on the 01/06/2007 in all EU member states including the UK “replacing several Regulations and European directives with a single system. One of the main requirements of REACH is for importers or manufacturers of substances to register them with the central European Chemicals Agency. The aim of this is to ensure that human health and the environment is protected by ensuring that manufacturers and importers understand and manage the risks associated with chemicals. REACH also allows substances to move freely on the EU market as well as allowing for free competition and innovation in the European chemicals industry.” (www.hse.gov.uk)
What will be a major question regarding the UK’s exit from the EU is whether the REACH regulations will still allow chemical manufacturers in the UK to trade chemicals freely in the EU market. If not then one fears that the chemical manufacturing industry in the UK will be majorly affected by the loss of free trade.
Another major European Regulation which is further example of combined laws the UK & EU currently share relating the hazardous materials is the (EC) No 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures – The CLP Regulations. – The CLP regulations which replaced the CHIP labelling system to now adopt the Globally Harmonised System (GHS) on the labelling and classification of chemicals.
It is hard to see why the UK government – HSE would throw out these newly adapted regulations but only time will tell.
What is certain is that BREXIT will cause a lot of uncertainty in industry and we can only hope at this stage that it will not have a negative effect on workplace health & safety going forward.
London Underground
Park Road, Rickmansworth
Hertfordshire
WD3 1HT
Transport Industry
London Underground based in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire approached Chemstore to supply storage for 4 No. sites.
The units would be required to store track maintenance equipment and chemicals on site. The units would be needed at the Rickmansworth, Neasden, Edgware Road and Ruislip London Underground depots.
London Underground needed a storage solution which would enable compliance with HSE & Government legislation for the storage of flammable liquids and Hazardous Chemicals.
Kevin Mitchell, our UK design engineer, helped to develop a design that enabled the client to successfully store highly flammable liquid drums within a Zone I atmosphere. This was achieved by incorporating the following: –
(All electrical items are fully ATEX rated for use within a Zone I flammable atmosphere.)
– Light fittings and switches
– Anti-static management systems
– Forced ventilation units.
– Heaters
– LED Energy saving flood lights
– Fire detection
The Firevault store was manufactured with a fully certified secondary containment bund and certified 90 minute fire rated cladding throughout.
The stores fit for purpose design has ensured the client is now storing its hazardous chemicals in a fully compliant fire rated enclosure. The Firevault design has enabled the customer to reduce risk, liability and downtime in its process.
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As part of the Wall Family Enterprise of companies, Technology Supplies had undertaken a centralisation project for all UK distribution. A new purpose built 78,000 square foot Distribution Centre was manufactured at the existing Technology Supplies site in Shrewsbury. One of the businesses re-locating to Shrewsbury, supplies large amounts of small containers of flammable liquids to educational establishments.
Because of the highly flammable hazards of these products it was extremely important that an efficient method was identified to enable the safe storage and picking of these products. Following lengthy consultations with both insurers and health and safety consultants, a 120-minute fire rated solution was specified as a requirement. Because of the live working environment, various contractors still building the extension, racking being installed and the requirement to situate the solution on a mezzanine floor, a ready-built solution was not feasible.
Solution:
After initial meetings on site between Chemstore’s site engineer and Technology Supplies’ warehouse and distribution manager, specification ideas for a fully bespoke solution to the flammable storage requirements were drafted over a number of months. Chemstore designed a solution to the issues highlighted above by developing a ‘Flat pack firevault’ which could be delivered to site in palletised form and assembled by a team of fabricators on site in just three days. The firevault is constructed with a certified two-hour fire rating as specified by the client company insurers and health and safety consultants. The unit was also specified with ATEX rated lighting and air extraction.
Client testimonial:
“After consulting with various suppliers, Chemstore was the only company who could provide us with the required solution. They designed a purpose built flat packed unit that could be shipped to us in pieces. This enabled the unit to be lifted up onto our mezzanine floor and assembled in situ. The unit is fitted with extraction and lighting. The end result is that we now have a purpose built Flammable liquid store incorporated into our pick routes which enables us to pick and store these flammables in the most efficient way. From initial consultations through to delivery, installation, testing and sign off, I could not of been more happy with the way in which the whole project went. The project was agreed, delivered and installed exactly as planned and I would not hesitate in recommending Chemstore for their excellent service they have provided to us.” Mat Mitchell, warehouse and distribution manager, Technology Supplies
Store specification:
5M x 4M flat pack firevault
Overall Dimensions: 5000L x 4000W x 2600H mm.
Storage: Open Plan Internal (as requested) with client’s option to fit existing racking on site.
The images below show the unit being pre-fabricated in the Chemstore manufacturing facility. Images then illustrate the assembly of the custom flat pack firevault in the clients purpose built warehouse in Shrewsbury.
0208 704 1807