Storage and Handling Systems in Workers' Perspective

In our work environment, a storage or handling system refers to any container, plant, connected pipework, or safety device like a spill containment system that interacts with hazardous chemicals.

These systems encompass a variety of items, such as bottles, packages, cylinders, drums, carboys, intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), tanks, vessels, reaction vessels, blending and mixing equipment, and associated pipework and connections.

The performance specifications for packages are outlined in the Australian Dangerous Goods (ADG) code. If you need information about the design, construction, location, and installation of bulk containers for hazardous chemicals, various Australian Standards provide guidance.

Safety Responsibilities

In the realm of occupational safety, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) holds the responsibility to ensure that any system utilized at the workplace for the use, handling, or storage of hazardous chemicals is exclusively employed for its designated purpose, as defined during its design, manufacture, modification, installation, or supply.

Additionally, a PCBU is obligated to guarantee:

• The execution of all operations related to the utilization of a storage and handling system does not pose harm or injury to workers and other individuals at the workplace.
• Adequate information, training, and instruction are provided to individuals operating, testing, maintaining, or decommissioning a hazardous chemical storage and handling system. This training encompasses safety features incorporated in the design, required maintenance procedures, instruction manuals, design specifications, and safe working parameters (e.g., temperature and pressure).

When dealing with a bulk container as a storage and handling system, it is imperative that the container and its associated pipework are situated on stable foundations, securely supported, and fastened to prevent any movement that may lead to damage.

Identification of hazardous chemicals within storage and handling systems necessitates compliance with specific requirements based on the system type:

• Packages require accurate labeling (section 342).
• Bulk containers demand tank placards displaying the proper shipping name, UN Number, Hazchem code, and dangerous goods class label, as specified in the ADG Code (section 350).
• Pipework is identified through a label, sign, or another means on or near the pipework (section 343).

To ensure the sustained safety and operational integrity of systems handling hazardous chemicals, ongoing preventative maintenance and integrity testing are crucial. This applies to various systems like reaction vessels, chemical transfer lines, pumps, spill bunding, and storage tanks.

Preventative maintenance and integrity testing may encompass activities such as:

• Inspecting glass linings on steel or metal alloy reaction vessels to identify cracks or holes that may permit contact of incompatible materials with the metal vessel.
• Regular checks of bursting (rupture) discs and pressure-relief systems on pressure vessels to ensure proper functionality and correct pressure ratings.
• Examining spill bunding walls for signs of wear to prevent leakage in case of a spill.
• Assessing corrosion or degradation on tanks, pipework, and compressed gas fittings.

The frequency and levels of testing and maintenance should align with recommendations from the system's manufacturer, supplier, and/or importer. These stakeholders may impose more stringent requirements than industry standards. Specific Australian Standards exist for certain systems, such as pressure vessels and storage tanks, providing further guidance on maintenance practices.