| Handling and moving hazardous chemicals in | | | | is probably correct. If there is a handwritten or |
| containers and cylinders short distance poses | | | | typewritten label, and crystals are present in a |
| special challenges. "It's only a short distance . . . | | | | liquid in the container, be suspicious of what the |
| I don't need to do all of that prep work." | | | | label says. Treat it as a mislabeled chemical until it |
| The situation isn't all that different from moving | | | | can be tested. Chemicals in unlabeled containers |
| household goods from an old house to a new | | | | must be disposed of as hazardous waste. If there |
| house in a nearby neighborhood. You pile the | | | | is a large quantity of chemicals in unlabeled |
| dishes in stacks on the back seat of the car | | | | containers, they should be treated as hazardous |
| instead of packing them into boxes which, is | | | | waste and tested to verify what the material is. |
| certainly too much trouble. Starting out of the | | | | Check the MSDS/SDS for each chemical to obtain |
| driveway, you slam on the brakes to avoid hitting | | | | instructions for specific handling precautions and to |
| a youngster on a bike - the result? Broken dishes, | | | | identify the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) |
| of course! The challenge is to overcome our | | | | that should be worn when working with the |
| inherent "short-cut" mindset and avoid the | | | | chemical. Don required PPE before handling, loading, |
| consequence of avoiding the work that must be | | | | moving, unloading and storing chemicals. |
| done to safely move a hazardous chemical load a | | | | Load chemicals onto your cart by hazard class |
| short distance. | | | | and balance small containers (less than 55 gallons) |
| Handling and moving hazardous chemicals can be | | | | on a 4-wheel cart with side railings. Place |
| very dangerous. Refer to the MSDS for each | | | | containers back into original shipping containers or |
| chemical you must work with. Select PPE to wear | | | | into new boxes fill with appropriate packing |
| based on the most hazardous of the chemicals | | | | materials (see MSDS/SDS). |
| you must handle. Identify what type of spill kit to | | | | Prepare gas filled cylinders for moving by |
| have on hand, what type of carts and dollies to | | | | removing regulators and screwing on the valve |
| use for moving containers and cylinders, and what | | | | covers. Place the cylinders on a cylinder dolly; do |
| types of containers and packaging to have on | | | | not lay cylinders on their sides or place them on |
| hand to transfer those chemicals that are in | | | | forklift tines. |
| unsafe containers or when preparing the | | | | For more information about the content of this |
| containers for disposal. | | | | article, refer to MSDS Section 7, "Handling and |
| Start the move by inventorying the hazardous | | | | Storage." For information about handling and |
| chemicals to be moved. Perform a visual | | | | moving equipment products/materials, and supplies |
| inspection to check for damaged containers and | | | | for moving or handling hazardous chemicals, click |
| incompatible chemicals that may react together if | | | | on this link to access a blog on "Handling and |
| vapors mix, if a spill occurs, or if containers leak. | | | | Moving Hazardous Chemical Containers." This |
| Compare your move inventory with the chemical | | | | blog provides references, products, and solutions |
| inventory in your Hazcom Plan. | | | | to support the tasks that must be done to keep |
| Check the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or | | | | from destroying a load of hazardous chemicals |
| Globally Harmonized System Safety Data Sheet | | | | when moving them, or the workers or the plant |
| (SDS) for correctness of container labeling; if | | | | to move a load of hazardous chemicals a short |
| there is a manufacturer's label on the container, it | | | | distance. |