Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
There are legal requirements if you store chemicals in small-scale stores, such as in:
You must store any hazardous chemical in a suitable container that is:
You can check the chemical's safety data sheet (SDS) to see if it is hazardous. The SDS contains information about the chemical, including details of how to store, use and dispose of it safely. See the page in this guideline: Chemical labelling and information.
Separate all incompatible chemicals. If you store incompatible chemicals together and there is a leak or spill, it could cause a violent reaction. A chemical's SDS will tell you which chemicals it shouldn't be mixed with.
If you store pest control products on your site, make sure you store them safely to avoid causing pollution.
If you store chemicals in your work vehicle, lock the vehicle whenever you leave it. Don't leave chemicals on display.
Keep your chemicals in a deep drip tray in your vehicle. Alternatively, ensure that your chemicals are in double-skinned containers, and that you keep containers tightly shut.
Secure chemical containers so that they cannot move about when you are driving.
Use bunded shelving to catch any spills. Alternatively, keep chemicals on shelves within drip trays.
You should secure all shelving and storage units to the floor or wall to prevent them toppling over.
Store all bottles, vials and other chemical containers:
The bund or drip tray should be big enough to contain any spills.
Make sure that your drip trays or bunded shelves are made of a suitable material for the chemical you are storing. For example, you may not be able to use a polyethylene container to store corrosive chemicals.
Keep double-wrapped or bagged chemicals in trays. Keep chemicals from the same batch together in the same storage tray.
Store flammable chemicals in a fire-proof steel cabinet or chemical storage cupboard. If you store lots of flammables, you may need to keep them in a designated room.
Common flammable substances include:
You should:
You are responsible for all chemicals on your site. You can be prosecuted for a pollution incident that originates on your site even if it was caused by vandals.
Use lockable storage units and keep chemicals locked away if possible when they are not in use.
HSE: Chemical manufacture and storage for small companies
Storage, handling and delivery of chemicals
Bulk chemical storage - tanks and drums
Secondary containment systems for chemicals
Small-scale chemical storage - Cabinets, shelves and vehicles
Chemical labelling and information
Avoiding and dealing with chemical spills
Temperature controlled chemical storage
Groundwater in Northern Ireland, DAERA have produced a leaflet to raise awareness about this untapped resource
EU Exit, EU Exit useful information
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