hazardous chemical | Spill Containment Blog

Pesticide Storage 101: How To Safely Store Pesticides

April 2, 2024 by Travis Zdrazil

Protect people and the environment with proper pesticide storage solutions

Pesticide storage cabinets offer a safe way to protect your employees and facility

If your company produces, transports, or handles pesticides, you’ll need to safely store them to reduce the chance of an accident. Professional-grade pesticides, though varying in toxicity, uniformly pose significant risks to both human health and the environment. Allowing these chemicals to spill in your workplace may cause direct injury to nearby employees, and it could leave your company vulnerable to fines and sanctions.

For more information on how to safely store pesticides in your work place, keep reading.

Advantages of Storage Cabinets for Pesticides

Some companies simply place their pesticides on an open shelf where workers can easily knock them over. However, the safest and most effective technique for storing pesticides is investing in a professional-grade safety cabinet.

There are several different types of safety cabinets available, including models specifically designed for flammable liquid storage, drum safety as well as pesticides. Pesticide cabinets are typically colored green for easy identification, and are constructed of either steel or polyethylene for exceptional strength.

Whether your company handles insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or any other type of pesticide chemical, a safety cabinet offers the perfect method of storage.

Pesticide Safety Cabinet Benefits

Safety: By providing a designated and leak-proof space for pesticide storage, cabinets minimize the risk of accidents and exposure to toxic chemicals.
Compliance: Cabinets help companies adhere to regulatory requirements set by organizations like OSHA and the EPA, ensuring a safe work environment.
Organization: With multiple shelves, cabinets enable systematic arrangement and easy access to pesticide containers, reducing the risk of misplacement.
Space Optimization: Cabinets can be customized to fit specific workspace layouts, maximizing storage efficiency.
Chemical Compatibility: Built from materials resistant to corrosion, cabinets maintain the integrity of stored pesticides and prevent cross-contamination.
Durability: High-quality cabinets withstand industrial environments, minimizing the need for replacements.
Professional Image: Investing in cabinets demonstrates a commitment to safety and regulatory compliance, enhancing your company’s reputation.

Choosing the Right Pesticide Safety Storage Cabinet

Our previous post, What to Look For In a Safety Storage Cabinet, provides detailed tips to help guide your purchase decision. However, here’s a quick checklist of points to consider:

Size: Select a model that’s large enough to house all pesticides while fitting comfortably within your workplace layout.
Shelving: Opt for cabinets with adjustable shelves to accommodate different-sized containers and maximize storage efficiency.
Material: Both steel and polyethylene offer excellent chemical-resistance and durability, but consider factors like cost and specific chemical compatibility.
Security: Check to see whether or not the storage cabinet offers a locking mechanism to prevent unauthorized access and safeguard against potential theft or tampering.

General Tips for Storing Pesticides at Work

Avoid storing pesticides near flames or heat sources to prevent ignition or degradation of chemicals.
Maintain an itemized list of your pesticides so you know exactly what’s being stored in your workplace. This helps facilitate inventory management and quick identification of contents.
Never mix your pesticide storage cabinet contents with non-pesticide products. Segregation of chemicals prevents contamination or accidental mixing.
Only house pesticides in their original containers. If you need to transfer pesticide solutions, ensure they are clearly labeled and never use beverage bottles that may be mistakenly consumed.
Keep flammable liquids away from pesticides to minimize fire hazards.
Read the labels for more information regarding the specific type of pesticide, and adhere to all storage requirements and precautions.
Don’t house pesticides in locations where they may leak or spill into drains, wells, or other water sources.
Display the phone number for the poison control center nearby for immediate assistance in case of exposure or accidents.

Conclusion

Prioritizing the safe storage of pesticides helps protect both employees and the environment from potential harm. Storage cabinets offer a comprehensive solution for safely and efficiently managing pesticides in the workplace. They provide numerous benefits in terms of safety, compliance, organization, and peace of mind.

Invest in high-quality storage cabinets from AbsorbentsOnline to safeguard your workplace. If you have questions about pesticide storage for your facility, contact us today at travis@absorbentsonline.com or (800) 869-9633.

This is a revision to a blog post with an original publication date of November 20, 2013.

The Dangers of a Nitric Acid Chemical Spill

June 13, 2023 by Travis Zdrazil

Also known as aqua fortis, nitric acid is a highly corrosive acid and potent oxidizing agent. It’s widely used in various industries, including the production of fertilizers, dyes, and explosives.

Danger nitric acid warning However, due to its dangerously corrosive characteristics and toxic fumes, nitric acid spills create a serious hazard. As evidenced in February this year, when a tanker truck nitric acid spill in Arizona closed an interstate highway.

Therefore, if you own or manage a company that handles any form of nitric acid, you must have a plan in place for safely cleaning up a spill. Along with recognizing the potential hazards of nitric acid and its proper storage and handling procedures. By understanding the best practices for working with nitric acid, you can help ensure the safety of yourself and those around you.

So, to learn more about the dangers of a nitric acid spill and how to safely clean them, keep reading.

Understanding Nitric Acid and Its Hazards

According to the CDC, Nitric acid (HNO₃) is a colorless liquid with yellow or red fumes and an acrid odor. Due to its dangerously corrosive characteristics, combined with toxic fumes, nitric acid spills create a serious hazard to nearby workers.

It is a strong oxidizer, which means it can react violently when in contact with other substances, increasing the risk of fire or explosion. Furthermore, nitric acid can release toxic fumes, primarily nitrogen dioxide (NO2), when it comes into contact with organic matter or is heated. Inhalation of these fumes can lead to severe respiratory distress and other health complications.

A nitric acid chemical spill can result in severe burns, respiratory problems, and even death. As a result, it’s crucial for anyone who works with nitric acid to understand the risks and safety precautions associated with this chemical.

Permissible Exposure Limits in the Workplace

Let’s look at the permissible exposure limits because this is a topic often avoided or misunderstood among companies and business owners.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) currently states that the permissible exposure for nitric acid is 2 parts per million parts of air (ppm) over the course of eight hours.

Companies can also refer to the NIOSH report for more information on permissible exposure limits of nitric oxide.

Dangers of Nitric Oxide Exposure

Nitric acid gas and fumes may cause eye, throat, respiratory, and skin irritation. Prolonged exposure to high levels of nitric acid can lead to severe eye burning and even blindness.

Exposure levels of nitric acid are oftentimes gauged by viewing the employee’s skin; minor exposure may have minimal impact on the skin, but severe exposure can result in significant burns.

Emergency first aid procedures for nitric acid contact with the skin or eyes is using an eyewash or safety shower station to flush the affected area. If nitric acid mist or vapor is inhaled, immediately move to another area for fresh air and seek medical assistance.

Cleaning Up a Nitric Acid Spill

The first step in a nitric acid spill cleanup begins with the right personal protection equipment (PPE). As previously mentioned, both the fumes and direct exposure to liquid nitric oxide are hazardous to humans. Therefore, workers should gear up in a pair of industrial-grade safety glasses, gloves, a lab apron, and a respirator to protect themselves. Once wearing the appropriate PPE, a worker can begin to clean up the spill.

Several solutions are available for cleaning up a nitric acid spill, but using an acid absorbent is generally the best approach. For instance, using a specialty acid neutralizer absorbent powder or pillow. Once the acid is fully soaked up and neutralized, the soiled materials should be safely disposed of in accordance with manufacturer instructions and federal/state regulations.

Warning: combining water with a nitric oxide spill may only make it worse. Water not only spreads the acid, but it also reacts to it. The bottom line is that you should never attempt to clean up a nitric oxide spill using water.

Proper Handling and Storage of Nitric Acid

Nitric acid should always be housed in approved containers and storage cabinets. That’s because it is highly corrosive in the presence of aluminum, copper, and oxides, and it can attack all base metals.

Storage containers must be kept dry because nitric acid can react with water or steam, producing heat and toxic, corrosive, and flammable vapors. To segregate nitric acid from other acids in your acids cabinet, use secondary containers.

Ensure proper ventilation systems are in place to prevent the accumulation of toxic fumes.

Conclusion

The importance of being prepared for a nitric acid chemical spill cannot be overstated. Comprehensive training, adherence to safety regulations, and the availability of suitable spill response equipment and materials are crucial for preventing accidents, minimizing injuries, and protecting the environment.

By implementing robust safety measures and staying informed about the risks associated with nitric acid, companies can create a safer working environment and ensure the well-being of their employees. Remember, prevention and preparedness are key when it comes to handling hazardous substances like nitric acid.

If your facility needs advice on hazardous chemical spills get in touch with AbsorbentsOnline today! We offer a wide range of workplace safety supplies including acid storage cabinets and acid/chemical spill kits.

This is a revision to a blog post with an original publication date of December 23, 2013

The Do’s and Don’ts of Cleaning Up a Liquid Mercury Spill

January 3, 2020 by Travis Zdrazil

Everything you need to know about mercury spill kits and safe clean up

Mercury may be in thermometers, electrical components or dental fillings

Also referred to as quicksilver, liquid mercury is a highly toxic chemical that’s often found in a variety of workplace devices. Just a few examples include thermometers, barometers, and float valves. Often electric components, like switches and relays, contain mercury. It also remains in use in some fluorescent lighting and dental amalgam fillings. As well as scientific research laboratories, of course.

Have you ever seen this fascinating liquid metal in a school science lab? If so, you’ll remember it’s a completely unique substance to observe. It certainly behaves unlike most fluids or metals at room temperature.

But, it’s due to these unique characteristics that mercury spills require a different clean up approach. In the event of a spill, it’s important to follow proper mercury cleanup procedure. Otherwise, there’s a greater risk of mercury poisoning for anyone who comes into contact with it. Poisoning can occur through direct skin contact, absorption, vapor inhalation, or, ingestion.

Even minimum exposure to mercury can be deadly. Which is why specialty equipment is necessary for mercury spill control and clean up. That’s because this silver liquid metal easily breaks into small droplets and “scatters”. Using a mercury spill kit to absorb, neutralize and suppress mercury vapor is essential to minimize danger.

So to learn more about the do’s and don’ts of cleaning up a liquid mercury spill, keep reading.

Don’t: Use a vacuum cleaner on mercury spills

Liquid mercury has unique properties. It rolls over surfaces and breaks into droplets

Never attempt to clean a liquid mercury spill using a vacuum cleaner. A vacuum’s suction pressure will force microscopic mercury particles into the air rather than containing it. This results in higher mercury exposure to anyone in the surrounding area.

A vacuum cleaner might seem like a good idea initially, but it’s far too dangerous to use with mercury. Spreading the mercury into the air creates a significantly more dangerous hazmat environment. So, keep the vacuum turned off!

Don’t: Sweep mercury with a broom

Another common mistake when cleaning liquid mercury spills is sweeping it with a broom. As previously stated, mercury possesses unique characteristics. One of which is the ability to ‘ball’ up rather than spread evenly, like water or water-based substances.

If you attempt to sweep liquid mercury with a broom, chances are you’ll only spread it around. Rather than having just a few large drops bunched together, you’ll have dozens or even hundreds of smaller drops scattered across the floor.

Do: Wear protective gear during mercury spill clean up

Thick latex or nitrile gloves and goggles are essentials when working with mercury spills

Always wear protective gear before attempting to clean up a mercury spill. Due to the high toxicity of liquid mercury, even skin contact is toxic. Don a pair of thick, professional-grade latex gloves along with protective safety goggles.

And remember that even with this PPE gear, you should avoid direct contact with liquid mercury.

Do: Use a squeegee for mercury cleanup

If you aren’t supposed to use a vacuum cleaner or broom, how exactly do you clean liquid mercury spills? Fortunately, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offer helpful instructions about how to safely clean up mercury spills.

For example, it recommends using a squeegee or piece of cardboard to push mercury into a single pile. Next, use an eyedropper to transfer it into a damp paper towel. You can then place the mercury-filled paper towel into a sealed plastic bag. Lastly, contact your local health or fire department to have them properly dispose of the liquid mercury biohazard.

Mercury clean up kits 101

Keep a mercury spill kit on hand for safe clean up of this hazardous material

If your workplace has any equipment that contains mercury, having a specialized spill kit on site is a no brainer. Next, we’ll outline some of the basics about clean up kits and safely dealing with a mercury spill.

What’s in a mercury spill clean up kit?

A mercury spill kit contains all the essentials to safely clean, decontaminate, and dispose of the hazardous waste. The main content is typically a mercury absorbent, encapsulating, or amalgamation powder. Clean up tools will include a scraper, wipers, dust pan and disposal bags. Some types of kits may contain things like chemical sponges, aspirator bottle, or spatulas. All kits will contain appropriate PPE, such as thick nitrile gloves and goggles.

How do I use a mercury spill kit?

First, put on safety goggles and gloves. Next, sprinkle absorbency powder around the spill site to completely cover the mercury. The mercury absorbent powder bonds to, and transforms, droplets into a solid material like zinc amalgam. It also acts as a vapor suppressor to limit exposure to this toxic substance.

After a few minutes, sweep up the stabilized mercury using a hand broom and dust pan. Decontaminate the spill surface area with mercury clean up wipers to remove any residues. Finally, transfer all used kit hazmat materials into a disposal bag and seal it with a twist tie.

Shop chemical spill kits and more at AbsorbentsOnline.com

We offer a wide variety of spill kits to help keep your workplace safe

We offer a wide range of spill containment and hazmat clean up products for quick order.

Browse our mobile spill kits, battery acid spill kits, indicator powder neutralizers. Find spill control products like containment berms, absorbents, and wipers. We also stock containment pallets for IBC totes and overpacks. Not to mention a wide selection of safety cabinets and safety cans!

Contact us for advice about anything from storing hazardous materials, to spill containment.

This is a revision to a post with an original publish date of October 17, 2013

Are Your Workers Protected from Hazardous Chemical Risks?

January 19, 2015 by Travis Zdrazil

Handling chemicals in a laboratory Despite scores of regulations from OSHA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and various other governmental entities, hazardous chemical exposure is still a pervasive problem in many workplaces. In fact, OSHA publicly acknowledged the problem last fall, bringing it into the spotlight and inviting industry representatives into a “national dialogue” to discuss solutions and tackle the monumental task of updating permissible exposure limits (PELs).

Even the most safety-conscious employers cannot take hazardous chemical safety for granted. Accidents can happen all too easily — it only takes one careless mistake to result in devastating consequences that can harm employees’ health, the environment, the vitality of the business, and more.

In light of the renewed attention to hazardous workplace chemical dangers, it’s a good time to review your own facility’s chemical safety plan and ensure you’re doing enough to mitigate the risks of hazardous chemical exposure.

The first step
The first step toward better hazardous chemical safety is to confirm that all employees understand precisely what a hazard is. According to OSHA, hazardous chemicals (and common materials that contain hazardous chemicals, such as paint and cleaning compounds) can be categorized as a health hazard, a physical hazard, or another hazard type (such as combustible dust). A health hazard is a chemical that can cause acute or chronic health effects in exposed employees. A physical hazard is a chemical that could cause non-health related physical damage.

The OSHA Hazard Awareness Advisor is a great resource for educating your business. The advisor helps general industry employers and workers identify possible safety and health hazards in their workplace, then directs them to OSHA standards that address those hazards. This tool can be particularly helpful to small employers who don’t have the means to hire safety and health professionals to evaluate their workplace.

The next steps
Once you understand what constitutes a chemical hazard, take these further steps to keep your employees safe:

Get employee buy-in. It’s vital that your employees understand the correct procedures for using and disposing of chemicals, and why safety is crucial.

Identify all hazardous chemicals in your workplace. Check the information available in the chemical manufacturer’s MSDS or product labeling to determine which chemicals are hazardous. You should also be familiar with PELs for every chemical used in your workplace, and establish practices to reduce workers’ exposure to these harmful substances. And remember: When classifying hazardous materials, it’s always best to err on the side of caution.

Do a personal protective equipment (PPE) inventory. Make sure you have the necessary respirators, ear protection, eye and face protection, head protection, safety gloves, and other PPE for working with the chemicals used in your workplace. Make sure workers can easily access this equipment, and understand when and how to use it.

Review your chemical spill response supplies. Ensure you have the correct materials on hand to quickly respond to a chemical spill.

Whether you’re a company leader, manager, or team manager, you can’t afford to take hazardous chemical safety for granted in your workplace. Keep your hazardous chemical safety procedures up to date, and make sure that employees at all levels fully understand and employ those procedures when working with chemicals.

Do you have the right safety products on hand for your workplace? To find out, contact Angie Meza at angie@absorbentsonline.com or (800) 869-9633.

Find these hazardous chemical safety and spill response supplies at AbsorbentsOnline.com.

Tips To Prevent Hazardous Chemical Spills In The Workplace

June 10, 2014 by Travis Zdrazil

Why chemical spill prevention is important for your facility

metal barrel chemical drums Chemical spills or leaks can pose a direct threat to workers’ health, the environment, and nearby animals. This is why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have strict rules in place. For both the prevention and cleanup of workplace hazardous chemical leaks or spills.

When you’re running a business, it can be easy to overlook the fundamentals of maintaining a safe working environment. But companies storing, transporting, using or handling hazardous chemicals must take precautionary measures.

And that’s because failing to take preventive measures against chemical spills could place your company at risk. Including OSHA and/or EPA fines. Not to mention placing your workers’ health and well-being in jeopardy.

Some people assume that only large-scale chemical leaks—like the one in West Virginia in 2014—are dangerous. But in reality, it’s often smaller leaks that prove more harmful to workers and the environment. So read on to see our three tips for reducing chemical spill risks in your facility.

1. Store hazardous chemicals under cover outdoors

To protect against rainfall, always store your hazardous chemicals in a covered area outdoors. If rainwater mixes with a hazardous chemical, it can dilute it. And so contaminate the workplace or become a storm-water pollutant. Granted, chemicals diluted with water are typically weaker. But this also means there’s more of it. Which means response teams have to work extra hard to clean up hazardous chemical spills mixed in with rainwater.

There are a number of different outdoor drum storage solutions available. Including lockable units with hard or roll tops. As well as larger shed buildings that can hold up to 20 drums.

What is a hazardous chemical?

A hazardous chemical can include any of the following products that are commonly found in many workplaces:

Flammables
Corrosives
Oils
Solvents
Explosives
Combustibles

2. Properly label all hazardous chemicals

OSHA requires companies to properly label any hazardous chemical that it stores or uses in the workplace. Each type of chemical must have a clear and accurate label describing its contents. For instance, whether it is flammable, corrosive, oil or another chemical type in the list above. Color coding your safety cans is one helpful way to quickly ID its contents.

Why is correct labeling necessary? Well, that’s because it helps ensure safe response in the event of an accidental spill. By understanding the type of chemical spill, responders can use the correct clean up materials. As well as knowing which level of personal protective equipment (PPE) they need to wear.

3. Train workers in chemical spill prevention

Of course, a very important step in preventing workplace spills involves employee training. You should train workers how to properly handle respective chemicals to minimize risks. This includes everything from which container to store chemicals in, to what PPE to wear while using them.

Finally, ensure your staff know the proper cleanup procedures in the event of a spill. Including which type and color absorbents to use. See our post to learn how to choose the right spill containment kit for your facility.

Have questions about which chemical spill containment or absorbent products to purchase? Contact Travis Zdrazil at travis@absorbentsonline.com or (800) 869-9633.