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Flammable substances in the workplace - UK Guidelines
Cleaning fluids, adhesives, thinners, aerosols, paints, inks
These are the common flammable substances, frequently kept in most workplaces, which need to be stored in flame resistant cabinets designed specifically for the task - There may be other flammable substances specific to your business.
Don't fall down on your H&S responsibilities – or risk jeopardizing your insurance!
Hazardous Substances Policy - Storage
Arrangements for Keeping and Storage of Hazardous Substances
The way you store flammable and other hazardous substances in the workplace is important.
Common Flammable Substances in workplaces –
Cleaning fluids, adhesives, thinners, aerosols, paints and inks are common flammable substances kept in many workplaces. They need to be stored appropriately, or the risks involved are increased dramatically.
The main risks are that either the substance may leak, spill or seep from its container and create a potential fire hazard just waiting for a simple form of ignition.
Alternatively, a small fire caused by some other means, may be fueled out of control very quickly by inappropriately stored flammable substances.
The simple answer is to keep these substances in specifically designed and labeled cupboards.
Suitable cabinets will have internal arrangements to 'contain' any leaked substances. They should also have flame protected seals around openings and appropriate labeling.
Different types of hazardous materials should be kept in separate, appropriate cupboards, the categories being : flammable substances; acid or alkali; chemicals; pesticides or poisons.
Inappropriate storage of such substances may be against Health and Safety regulations, and may also invalidate your premises insurance. You should check with your insurers and the appropriate H&S officials.
The main risks from the keeping and storage of hazardous substances include:
o Personal injury or ill-health caused by exposure to escaping substances;
o Fire and explosion involving flammable or unstable substances in the containers;
o Fire and explosion involving flammable or unstable substances as escaping liquid, gas or vapour.
Risks may also arise if incompatible substances are incorrectly stored together and an incident causes them to come into contact.
Other factors that influence risk include the durability of the container:
o Fragility of glass bottles
o Perforation or degradation of plastic containers
o Corrosion or puncture of metal containers
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"Storage" means the facility in which substances in sealed containers and compressed gas containers are kept but not used within that place. For most substances, unless the substance is released or used it does not present a risk to health and safety.
A well-designed and properly used storage facility, and the segregation and separation of incompatible hazardous substances, should therefore present a very low risk.
To see a range of specially designed flame resistant cabinets for the storage of flammable substances, click here
The procedures and specifications that follow take into account statutory requirements and guidance from the Health and Safety Executive.
Principal Measures
1. Wherever they are kept, substances should be separated and segregated according to their incompatibilities - ie: flammable, acid/alkali, chemical, pesticide/poison
2. Each hazardous substances cabinet should be designated for and restricted to a particular class of substance. In particular, other substances should not be stored with highly flammable substances
3. No other combustible material, including packaging, should be kept in, nor within 1metre of, a hazardous substances cabinet.
4. The maximum volume of any flammable liquid with a flashpoint below 32degC that may be stored in a flame resistant cabinet within a workroom, is 50 litres, regardless of the capacity of the storage cabinet.
5. Empty flammable substance containers, unless completely free of liquid or vapour must also be kept in the highly flammable liquids store and must be securely closed until appropriate disposal is arranged.
6. Cabinets and cupboards for keeping substances inside the workplace should be:
a) of 30 minutes fire resisting construction;
b) able to retain spillage equivalent to 110% of the contents of the largest container;
c) appropriately labeled to indicate contents and signed to indicate the nature of the hazard;
d) sited so as to ensure adequate separation of incompatibles, and away from sources of heat, sources of ignition, as necessary, and away from hazardous areas and emergency escape routes.
7. Adequately ventilated storage must be used where the release of vapour is unavoidable and always for the more volatile and for fuming substances.
8. A record of the contents should be maintained at each cabinet.
9. A system of stock rotation should be employed so that the oldest containers are removed from store first.
10. If date-marked, substances must be used or disposed of by the "use by" or "disposal date", as guidelines for storage as appropriate.
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Relevant Regulations:
Highly Flammable and Liquefied Petroleum Gases Regulations 1972 (Section 5 part D)
The Health and Safety Executive Guide HS(G)51 1990
Factory Inspectorate Certificate of Approval No1 Parts 3 and 4
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