The Seven Steps
Chemicals
Purpose
To reduce the potential for risks from chemical spills.
Strip – Recommendation
Install wood or Plexiglas strips or wires to restrain containers on open shelves.
Supplies Required
Supplies Required
- Wood or Plexiglas strip—1/8″ x 1″
- Wood or sheet metal screws—No. 10 x 1″
- Wire rope—No. 12 gage
Installation
- Attach a wood or Plexiglas strip to the shelf with wood or sheet metal screws.
OR
Attach wire rope to the shelf with wood or sheet metal screws. - Secure the wire rope with three tight turns at each end.
- Provide intermediate vertical strips where horizontal strips span more than 3′. Attach vertical strips to each shelf.
- Place horizontal restraint high enough to restrain tall objects while allowing easy access. Provide additional horizontal restraint as required for shorter objects.
Strip restaint for containers on an open shelf.
Mechanical Latches – Recommendation
Secure cabinet doors with mechanical latches.
Supplies Required
Supplies Required
- Mechanical latches
Mechanical Latches – Installation
- Provide mechanical latches on all doors. Test latches to assure that they can remain closed during severe shaking.
- Replace magnetic latches with mechanical latches.
Glass Containers – Recommendation
Wrap fragile bottles or dangerous materials with foam rubber or rubber bands to protect
OR
Replace glass containers with unbreakable containers.
OR
Replace glass containers with unbreakable containers.
Bottle with Rubber or Foam “Bumpers”
Supplies Required
- Foam rubber or rubber
- Rubber bands
Note
- Store acids and other volatile chemicals separately and as close to the ground as possible.
- Store heavy containers as close to the ground as possible.
- For more information on storage of chemicals and chemical interaction contact your State Department of Ecology. For instance, the Washington State Department of Ecology has the following publication: Step-By-Step Guide for to Better LaboratoryManagement Practices, Publication No. 97-431, July 1997.
