Chemical storage cabinets are necessary if you house a lot of chemicals at your establishment. However, there are safety requirements and guidelines imposed by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) that you need to follow.
Why Chemical Storage Cabinets Are Necessary
Chemical storage cabinets are crucial to the safety of your establishment and workers. Chemicals come in their own containers, but they do not offer enough protection. Chemicals that are not stored properly pose a threat to your facility and employees. They can also be a huge fire hazard.
Another reason why chemical storage cabinets are necessary is security. Chemical storage cabinets not only prevent theft, they will also protect you from getting caught up in liability issues that could arise should an unauthorized person gain access to your chemicals and handle them improperly, especially if some gets hurt because the incident.
Buying chemical storage cabinets
There are a lot of things to consider when buying chemical storage cabinets.
After all the safety of your facility and employees hugely depend on them. They should be a sound investment and need not be replaced when someone from OSHA or NFPA comes to inspect.
To make sure you get the right kind of chemical storage cabinet, shop with a reputable vendor who specializes in industrial safety equipment. They will be able to help you find the right cabinet to suit your needs. Whats more, you can be sure that all their product offerings meet OSHA and NFPA safety standards.
What to look for
First, check for high quality construction.
Safety storage cabinets are often made of high quality steel. But some more corrosive chemicals need to be stored in high density Poly cabinets since they would eat right through the steel.
Next, look for double-walled doors, sides, tops and bottoms. Also look for leak-proof seals. 3-point door locks and vents with fire baffle.
Some cabinets feature legs which make them ideal for if you have moisture on the floor or if they have to be placed over vents or outlets. Cabinets with legs can also be more easily mover (using a forklift).