Natural disasters are unpredictable, and the havoc they wreak on facilities is profound. Such crises pose unique challenges for facilities handling hazardous chemicals. Hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and wildfires threaten a storage infrastructure’s physical integrity, leading to extensive harm to people and the environment. Preparedness, guided by proper chemical storage strategies, is more than just a proactive safety measure. It’s an essential practice for business continuity and regulatory compliance. Here’s what you should know about chemical storage for natural disasters.
Why Facility Managers Should Prioritize Preparedness
Facility managers juggle many responsibilities—compliance, safety, and operational efficiency, to name a few. However, many overlook chemical storage in the context of natural disasters until it’s far too late. Even if disaster seems unlikely, disaster prep should rank high on your priority list. Here’s why.
Environmental Hazards
Disasters often result in the release of improperly stored chemicals, which spread toxic substances into the air, soil, and water. As an example of how bad it can get, multiple carcinogenic chemical spills occurred during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, underscoring the dire consequences of inadequate chemical protection.
Regulatory Compliance
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and local fire marshals impose strict requirements for hazardous material storage. Your readiness shields your facility from hefty fines or extended shutdowns before or after a disaster.
Business Continuity
Securing your chemicals means faster recovery, with less time spent cleaning up and re-securing hazardous materials. Downtime doesn’t just cost you money; it can cause your business to lose clients and public trust. In short, investing time and resources into disaster preparedness today prevents catastrophic losses in the future.
Assess Your Facility’s Vulnerability
Conduct a vulnerability assessment before implementing a disaster-specific storage strategy. This assessment involves evaluating the chemicals stored and the potential risks to your facility’s location.
Hazard Categorization
Identify and classify all chemicals based on their properties and what hazards they pose: flammability, corrosiveness, explosiveness, or reactivity. Separate chemicals with different hazards or the potential to cause greater dangers if they mix.
Geographic Risks
Where does your facility sit, and what are the qualities of the landscape, soil, proximity to residential areas, and so forth? Is your facility on a floodplain? Do you operate in a wildfire-prone area? The type of natural disasters most likely to occur in your region should dictate your chemical storage strategy. Elevated storage platforms are a necessity in flood-prone regions, while facilities adjacent to wildfire zones should employ fire-resistant containers.
Infrastructure Integrity
Assess your current storage facilities. Can they handle what the earth and weather can dish out? For instance, can they withstand high winds or earthquakes? Are there secondary containment systems in place to handle leaks or spills should something breach them? Identifying weak points suggests disaster-resilient upgrades and aids in customizing chemical storage plans.
Best Practices for Storing Chemicals Before Natural Disasters
Once you’ve assessed your facility, implement the following practical storage solutions.
Segregated and Labeled Storage
Each chemical requires a dedicated storage zone. You must clearly label this zone to indicate the type of hazardous material stored there. Doing so prevents disastrous chemical reactions during a disaster.
Fire-Resistant Storage Units
We’ve touched on this regarding location and proximity to wildfire zones. But, in general, fireproof storage units and containers are smart and sensible since fires can happen anywhere at any time. Many hazmat storage units can contain and protect combustible chemicals for up to four hours during fires, providing critical time for emergency responders to react and prevent bigger fires. Ensure your hazmat containers meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.
Elevate Above Flood Levels
Water can be helpful and hurtful. Raging flood waters can carry and spread spilled chemicals. Therefore, you must store hazardous materials above ground level on elevated racks. Locking mechanisms and waterproof containers can provide added security. Do what you can to ensure water and waste never encounter one another.
Ventilated and Explosion-Proof Roofing
Adequate ventilation prevents the buildup of toxic gases that might lead to combustion. Gas monitors measure and react to high levels of gas released by accident and activate vents to disperse it. Explosion-proof roofs offer an extra layer of protection during high-wind events.
Secondary Containment Systems
These systems ensure an extra level of protection within an already secure zone. Secondary containment systems keep escaped hazmat from spilling or leaking into their surroundings. Check federal, state, and industry regulations; secondary containment is often a legal requirement.
Regular Inspections and Training
Stay on top of the quality of your facility’s safety systems. Disaster preparedness means nothing without regular inspections that require searching for damage, wear and tear, and other signs of system breakdown. Ensure employees have the necessary training to recognize problems when they see them. Conduct drills and inspect containers for corrosion, leaks, faulty measuring and monitoring devices, and other signs of potential issues. Ensure team members know how to handle emergencies by conducting periodic training, educational sessions, and frequent drills.
Facility managers can create a safer environment for their workforce and community by adhering to these best practices.
The Role of Temporary Chemical Storage Rentals
Sometimes, facility managers face urgent storage dilemmas—especially during short-term projects, renovations, or situations where you must upgrade existing infrastructure to meet compliance standards. Perhaps, after a disaster, you need instant solutions for hazmat containment until your facility can receive repairs. Consider chemical storage rentals from American Hazmat Rentals. They serve as an effective solution in many ways.
Flexibility
Unlike permanent storage units, chemical storage rentals cater to businesses with changing needs. Renting ensures you’re ready for sudden shifts in circumstances, whether it’s hurricane season or earthquake rehabilitation.
Cost-Effectiveness
Building new facilities or upgrading outdated systems is expensive. Rentals let you allocate your budget efficiently without sacrificing safety or compliance.
Enhanced Features
Many rental units come pre-equipped with state-of-the-art features, such as explosion-proof roofs and walls, fire-rated containment ability, and robust security measures. These units are readily deployed while meeting stringent regulatory requirements.
Mobility
Rentals are ideal for mobile operations or businesses requiring short-term solutions. We can deliver, install, and remove units with minimal disruption to existing operations.
That’s what you should know about chemical storage for natural disasters. Take time today to evaluate your facility, equip your team, and invest in safer chemical storage solutions. Need some suggestions or an assessment of your facility’s needs to prepare before a disaster happens? Contact us today for a consultation!
