Australians alone consume around 250 million aerosol cans every year, and these small cans are used in homes and businesses around the globe. However, aerosol cans are hazardous due to the odd combination of ingredients kept under pressure inside the metal canister. Even if the active ingredient is not a hazardous chemical, the container can nevertheless explode or become a harmful projectile.
Safety Comes First
To make sure your workplace operates legally and safely, store corrosive and dangerous goods in effective aerosol can storage cabinets designed to ensure compliance with Australian Standard AS 3833.
These cabinets are suitable for storing both loose and packed aerosol cans. It is a high-quality box with six storage levels and comes standard with flammable gas lettering; however, there is also non-flammable, non-toxic signage for class 2.2 gas available.
Many warehouses and workshops accidentally store aerosol cans in flammable liquid storage cabinets, which are non-compliant due to insufficient airflow. Likewise, volatile liquids cannot be stored in an aerosol storage cage; instead, they must be housed in a flammable liquids' cabinet.
Aerosol storage cabinets are intended to assist control of a fire that would likely cause aerosol cans to explode and emit dangerous projectiles. Paint cans and other spray cans that are not stored in the proper aerosol cage with compliant signage to meet Australian Standards pose a workplace hazard and may result in a fine or breach notice from the EPA or your state safety regulator.
In addition to government safety inspectors enforcing Australian Standards compliance, your insurance agreement states that unless your aerosols are stored correctly, you are likely to be in breach of your obligations.
While your aerosol can cabinet is constructed to reduce the many risks associated with your stored substances, there are additional considerations that can help you increase the efficiency and practicality of your chemical storage areas.
Storing Small vs. Large Quantities
Small quantities of dangerous goods, as defined by Australian Standards and the ADG or Australian Dangerous Goods Code, should be kept in a designated area, location, or cabinet on your premises.
To determine the types of aerosol can storage cabinets you may require, make a list of all hazardous goods on site, including the product, its DG Class, Subsidiary Risk, and Packing Group, as well as a synopsis of the hazards mentioned in the MSDS.
Reviewing the MSDS will provide you with an indication of the fire and explosion risks associated with flammable gases, fire risks from oxidising agents, and toxic or corrosive threats.
Having all of this information on hand will also allow you to decide whether particular products are incompatible and should not be stored together.
If you can reduce the amounts held on site, substitute products with a lower-risk category, and strictly adhere to the MSDS for labelling and storage, you will be able to better manage the storage of your dangerous goods.
Bulk Dangerous Goods Storage
What if you need to store aerosol in bulk? Different requirements apply to workplaces where substantial quantities of dangerous items or flammable liquids must be stored. Small quantities are known as 'packages', whilst 'bulk' refers to any quantity that exceeds the maximum container size designated for a 'package'. Typically, bulk storage refers to tanks and IBCs; however, the Australian Dangerous Goods Code might specify maximum quantities for each material.
When more than 100 litres or 50kg of aerosols or other tiny disposable cylinders are stored together, they should be maintained in a separate aerosol storage cabinet. An enclosed storage room or cabinet with mesh panels will help to prevent the possibility of paint cans becoming missiles during a fire.
Spray paints can sometimes be stored in a standard dangerous goods cabinet, but depending on the volume, environment, and other circumstances, a traditional cabinet may be overkill. If you are merely keeping paint, an aerosol storage cabinet is a suitable option.
Mechanical Ventilation
When storing dangerous chemicals such as aerosol indoors, you should examine whether your cabinet will require mechanical ventilation. Mechanical ventilation may be required for specific classifications of dangerous items or owing to unsafe concentrations of airborne pollutants in workers' breathing spaces. Chemical cabinets are designed with features such as flash arrestors and vents that enable the installation of a compliant mechanical ventilation system.
Remember that under the Australian Work Health and Safety Regulations (2021), you are required to monitor and manage hazardous vapour emissions related to chemical handling and storage. To reduce the risk of human harm, you must follow the legal limits outlined in the workplace exposure standards and actively reduce high concentrations of vapours by either reducing the amount of chemicals stored, improving housekeeping methods, or installing mechanical ventilation.
With that being said, make sure you hire a qualified engineer who can design and install the ventilation system without jeopardising the cabinet's risk measures.