Waste management is an often overlooked aspect of a business. This is particularly true for companies that work with chemicals and other types of hazardous materials.
There are regulatory standards that must be met for shipping and disposing of hazardous materials, not to mention the environmental, safety, and health (EHS) aspect of chemicals in the workplace. Therefore, companies face consequences in multiple ways if they aren’t careful in precise with their management of chemical waste.
Since this is not an area where any business can afford to be anything but precise, we wanted to share the best tips and practices for shipping and managing chemicals and hazardous waste in the workplace.
The best way to manage hazardous waste is to reduce the usage of these substances. Obviously, not every business can just eliminate their use of chemicals because they’re often essential to what the business produces. But in some cases, there will be alternative substances to hazardous materials that won’t disrupt workflows or alter the quality of products. In other cases, it might be possible to reduce the volume of a particular chemical that’s being used during production. Even if companies can simply learn to be more economical with how much of a substance they use, it can go a long way toward making the disposal and shipment of these substances much easier.
Needless to say, companies should have a way of monitoring the inventory levels of all materials that are used to conduct business. However, this is even more important with chemicals and hazardous substances. There should be one or more employees responsible for tracking how much of a substance is on-site, where it’s being stored, the shelf life of that substance, how much of that substance is likely to be needed, and any other pertinent information. All of that data should be tracked closely and updated regularly so there is no gray area. The bottom line is companies need to know how much of a hazardous substance is on-site at any given time and how quickly that substance will be used or expire.
With any type of chemical, it’s critical to be efficient with how that substance is used. For example, don’t order more of a substance than you expect to need because it’ll create more waste than expected. This is also why knowing the shelf life and expected usage should be tracked closely. It’s also important to avoid transferring materials from one container to another as much as possible. If this is an issue, you may need to adjust the size of your containers or the volume that you’re purchasing. The more you transfer a substance from one container or another, the more you’re asking for trouble. This is a good example of not being efficient with your use of chemical substances.
Needless to say, chemical spills are a huge problem in any work environment and should be avoided at all costs. It’s possible for there to be an accident, but even accidents aren’t always accidents. Companies that work with chemicals need clear policies for how hazardous substances should be handled during every task, including how those chemicals get disposed of and removed from the facility. With clear protocols, not to mention training, the chance of a spill can be significantly reduced.
Just in case there is a spill or accident involving a chemical substance, employers should understand the potential consequences. How does that chemical react with the environment around it? What other substances will react with it dangerously? Should employees be concerned about their health and safety if there is a spill or accident? Waiting until after an accident is not the time to find out answers to these questions. Companies need to be educated about the worst-case scenario well in advance.
One of the best ways to manage hazardous substances properly is having a designated storage area. Ideally, this would be far away from employees who aren’t asked to work with chemicals. Therefore, the number of personnel around the storage area would be limited. There would also be a limited distance for the chemicals to be transported from the storage area to where they’re needed. Likewise, there should be a separate area for chemical waste that’s as close as possible to where the waste is generated. That way, there is minimal need to transport the waste too far within the facility.
The containers where chemicals and chemical waste are stored are one of the most important parts of proper waste management. As mentioned, avoid transferring chemicals from one container to another as much as possible. This requires having a container that’s big enough, as well as having the proper amount of every substance. It’s also critical to have a container and a lid for that container that won’t have a negative reaction with the substance it’s holding. Most companies should have a handle on this, but it’s something to consider if a business starts using a new hazardous substance to conduct work.
Meanwhile, it’s good practice to keep lids on containers at all times except when chemicals are being removed or waste is being added to the waste containers. Naturally, the containers should be leakproof and the caps should be as tight as possible. These might seem like obvious details, but they can’t be overlooked. Finally, it’s a good idea to keep backup containers on hand just in case there is an unexpected amount of waste generated with no place to store it. That’s a dangerous situation, but one that can be prevented.
One final detail about containers to keep in mind is that they need to be labeled at all times. A container of a hazardous substance or chemical waste that isn’t labeled is every company’s worst nightmare. Chemicals are dangerous enough when you know what they are. Not having a proper label will require opening the container, which is particularly dangerous if nobody knows what’s in it. Also, keep in mind that processing or disposing of unknown chemicals is an added expense that most companies can’t afford. It’s also a good idea to add a hazardous waste tag to every container to reinforce to anyone who comes across the container that it contains material that is dangerous and needs to be disposed of properly.
Whenever possible, recycling chemicals is always the best option. This can greatly reduce the amount of waste that’s created and needs to be discarded. It’s also a great way to reuse materials that can still serve a purpose. At times, on-site recycling is possible if there is a use for the chemicals and the employees know the proper procedure. If not, there is no shame in finding a licensed third party that can collect recycled chemicals and help reduce overall waste.
When it comes to working with chemicals and hazardous waste, there are bound to be regulations to follow. OSHA and other agencies have certain standards, but there could be local regulations as well. While it may not seem like it, local regulations aren’t just there to make things more complicated. They are usually in place for a reason. It’s up to somebody at the company to monitor those regulations and ensure all hazardous materials and waste are being handled according to those regulations. Of course, there are potential fines and punishment if standards aren’t met. But there is also a greater risk of an accident happening if proper regulations aren’t followed.
Virtually no company will be able to work with chemicals and dispose of their waste without help. One or more steps along the way are going to require a partner, sometimes multiple partners. Therefore, one of the biggest keys to waste management is finding a responsible and trustworthy partner. The key is making sure all parties are on the same page when it comes to what’s needed. Does everyone understand what needs to be done, the chemicals being used, and the volume of waste being handled?
Meanwhile, it’s important to get to know your partners before committing to anything. What is their history and level of experience with this type of work? Have they had any accidents or regulatory issues in the past? Are they up to date on permits and training of their staff members? Asking about their liability insurance is also an important question. Needless to say, there are a lot of factors to consider when finding the right partner. But that’s the way it needs to be because using chemicals and disposing of waste can have serious consequences if it’s not done right.
With so many steps in the process and so many factors to consider, it’s a good idea for every company that uses chemicals in the workplace to have a chemical inventory and waste management system in place. This type of software is the best way to integrate every aspect of chemicals and waste into a single platform. This keeps all pertinent information in the same place, making it easy to understand what’s happening and what needs to be done. Without something like software in place, the chances of something going wrong with chemicals and waste are too great.