Warehousing and storage: a guide to health and safety (HSG76): HSG76 / HSG 76 (Health and safety guidance, HSG76 / HSG 76)

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You must transfer wastes from containers into other storage vessels using a dip pipe, not by pouring. You should equip storage and treatment tanks with an automatic level monitoring system and an associated alarm or trip system. These systems must be sufficiently robust (for example, be able to work if sludge and foam are present) and regularly maintained. You must fit tanks with suitable overfill protection. You should, where applicable and based on a recorded risk assessment, make inert the atmosphere of tanks containing organic liquid waste with a flashpoint less than 21°C. This can be done, for example, by using nitrogen gas. You must have in place systems to prevent ‘tanker drive off’ (a vehicle pulling away whilst still coupled). This guidance is issued by the Health and Safety Executive. Following the guidance is not compulsory and you are free to take other action. But if you do follow the guidance you will normally be doing enough to comply with the law.”

Under cover storage provides better protection for containers than open air storage and minimises the generation of contaminated water. Covered storage also: You must be able to close all connections to vessels, tanks and secondary containment via suitable valves. You must fit a valve close to the tank if you have bottom outlets, and have at least 2 isolation points in case of valve failure. HSE guidelines come in the form of HSE guidance documents. These are best practice documents which offer pragmatic — rather than legal — advice on matters of occupational safety. A common misconception is that HSE guidelines and HSE guidance documents are the law. However, they are not, and this short paragraph at the start of every HSE guidance document makes this clear:

Warehouse hazards to consider

A comprehensive online collection of construction related standards, regulations, technical advice and articles The HSE and The Storage Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (SEMA) advise looking at the following areas to uncover potential problems.

You must make a record of any spillages. You must retain spillages within the bunded areas and collect them promptly using, for example, pumps or absorbents. HSG90: The law on VDUs: An easy guide: Making sure your office complies with the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 (as amended in 2002)

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wastes which could be recovered with other wastes if this means that the waste must now be sent for disposal or a lower form of recovery You must store containerised wastes that are sensitive to air, light, heat, moisture or extreme ambient temperatures under cover protected from such ambient conditions. Covered areas must have good ventilation. This applies to any such container: Wherever practicable you should store all other wastes under cover. Covered areas must have good ventilation. This applies to any such container: Where you use rotary-type pumps, they must be equipped with a pressure control system and safety valve. have tanker connection points within the bund where possible – if not possible you must provide adequate containment for spillages or leakage

All containers that need them should have a lid or bung, and the lid or bung must be closed except when the container is being sampled, having waste added into it or having waste removed from it.All pipes, hoses, connections, couplings and transfer lines must be fit for purpose and resistant to the wastes being stored. You must use a suitable pipework coding system (for example, RAL European standard colour coding).

You must provide adequate bunding of all storage areas, and containment and treatment of any water run-off.

Resources

HSG167: Biological monitoring in the workplace: A guide to its practical application to chemical exposure maintain a sound coupling at each end of the transfer hose, even when a gravity feed system is in place, and protect the transfer hose HSG245: Investigating accidents and incidents: A workbook for employers, unions, safety representatives and safety professionals HSG158: Flame arresters: Preventing the spread of fires and explosions in equipment that contains flammable gases and vapours You must direct overflow pipes to a contained drainage system (for example the relevant secondary containment) or to another vessel where suitable control measures are in place.