Prep Cart

Prep Cart

Handling and Moving Hazardous Chemical Containers

Handling and moving hazardous chemicals in containers and cylinders short distance poses special challenges. "It's only a short distance . . . I don't need to do all of that prep work."

The situation isn't all that different from moving household goods from an old house to a new house in a nearby neighborhood. You pile the dishes in stacks on the back seat of the car instead of packing them into boxes which, is certainly too much trouble. Starting out of the driveway, you slam on the brakes to avoid hitting a youngster on a bike - the result? Broken dishes, of course! The challenge is to overcome our inherent "short-cut" mindset and avoid the consequence of avoiding the work that must be done to safely move a hazardous chemical load a short distance.

Handling and moving hazardous chemicals can be very dangerous. Refer to the MSDS for each chemical you must work with. Select PPE to wear based on the most hazardous of the chemicals you must handle. Identify what type of spill kit to have on hand, what type of carts and dollies to use for moving containers and cylinders, and what types of containers and packaging to have on hand to transfer those chemicals that are in unsafe containers or when preparing the containers for disposal.

Start the move by inventorying the hazardous chemicals to be moved. Perform a visual inspection to check for damaged containers and incompatible chemicals that may react together if vapors mix, if a spill occurs, or if containers leak. Compare your move inventory with the chemical inventory in your Hazcom Plan.

Check the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or Globally Harmonized System Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for correctness of container labeling; if there is a manufacturer's label on the container, it is probably correct. If there is a handwritten or typewritten label, and crystals are present in a liquid in the container, be suspicious of what the label says. Treat it as a mislabeled chemical until it can be tested. Chemicals in unlabeled containers must be disposed of as hazardous waste. If there is a large quantity of chemicals in unlabeled containers, they should be treated as hazardous waste and tested to verify what the material is.

Check the MSDS/SDS for each chemical to obtain instructions for specific handling precautions and to identify the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that should be worn when working with the chemical. Don required PPE before handling, loading, moving, unloading and storing chemicals.

Load chemicals onto your cart by hazard class and balance small containers (less than 55 gallons) on a 4-wheel cart with side railings. Place containers back into original shipping containers or into new boxes fill with appropriate packing materials (see MSDS/SDS).

Prepare gas filled cylinders for moving by removing regulators and screwing on the valve covers. Place the cylinders on a cylinder dolly; do not lay cylinders on their sides or place them on forklift tines.

For more information about the content of this article, refer to MSDS Section 7, "Handling and Storage." For information about handling and moving equipment products/materials, and supplies for moving or handling hazardous chemicals, click on this link to access a blog on "Handling and Moving Hazardous Chemical Containers." This blog provides references, products, and solutions to support the tasks that must be done to keep from destroying a load of hazardous chemicals when moving them, or the workers or the plant to move a load of hazardous chemicals a short distance.

About the Author

Fredric May is a former occupational safety and health professional who worked for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and private sector companies providing industrial hygiene expertise in training and work place practices. He is currently a business process management analyst and project management specialist.

Do you think I can get to team level 4 in gymnastics?

I can do a backhandspring I can almost do a roundoff back handspring and I can do a back tuck into the pit then on the tumble track ( the really long trampoline) I can do a roundoff quadrooplet back handsprings ( 4 backhandsprings) back tuck. I can do a front walkover a back walkover a front handspring and a front tuck into pit. On bars I can do a squat on jump to high bar, front hip circle, back hipcircle, pull over and for a dismount I can do a fly away and I almost have my straddle kip. For the vaulting horse I can do a front handspring on 1 or 2. For the soft "vaulting" cube I can do handstand flat back front tuck and front handspring. For beam I can do a back walk over on low beam a cart wheel on high and low beam, leaps, jumps, front tuck dismount. Right now I am on prep opt novice almost intermidiate and I was thinking about trying out for team? Think I'm good enough? Think I should nail the harder things like round off back tuck then try out? Tell me you your thoughts!!!

no my friend is level 4 and she can do way more than that. i though am level 3 and i can do all those things plus more. it really depends on your gym