There are many risks involved with the handling of hazardous materials. These can be short-term, in the form of workers slipping and tripping, or long-term through accidental and direct exposure to chemicals and gases. Such spills and leaks can create a significant risk for both people and the environment, so it's important that your business has the right equipment in place for the goods that are being handled.
To help businesses safely handle their hazardous materials, we've put together an FAQ on everything you need to know about the on-site transportation of these substances. You will also find a comprehensive checklist included down below, designed to minimise the chances of missing something important when dealing with hazardous processes.
When a container isn't handled correctly or becomes damaged during handling, you risk an uncontrolled spill. If the container is storing hazardous substances, this spill will have a variety of potential consequences for both workers and the environment. These can include:
You can find more information about the hazardous substances located on your company's premises inside the company's safety data sheets (SDS). Employers have a duty to ensure that substances are appropriately labelled and able to be easily identified by employees.
Here are a few examples of hazard symbol labels:
It is worth noting that larger containers create greater risks. If hazardous substances are being transported in large, heavy containers - such as steel drums - then manual transport will result in a high level of physical strain and an increased risk of injury to the employee, alongside an increased risk of spillage.
The terms "dangerous goods" and "hazardous substances" are commonly used interchangeably in almost every industry, but it's important to know that they are not the same thing. From their definition and classification through to their regulation, everything about them is significantly different.
Dangerous goods are substances that when transported pose a risk to any of the following: Health, safety, property or the environment. Anyone planning on transporting dangerous goods in a public area must take a close look at the legal provisions surrounding these substances. You can find this within The European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR). The ADR explicitly considers the hazard level of a substance in connection with their transportation in public spaces.
Dangerous goods laws give rise to special regulations, such as special labelling requirements, the use of packaging with special transport approval and the need for vehicle drivers to receive special training.
Certain dangerous goods that pose a risk even when not being transported are typically referred to as hazardous materials (also known as HAZMAT or hazmat). Under the European Union's 2008 CLP Regulation, hazardous substances placed on the market must be correctly classified, labelled, packaged and handled.
In the UK, hazardous substances are further controlled by the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR), which requires employers to protect workers and members of the public from any risk of harm as a result of hazardous substances used or present in the workplace. From June 2015, DSEAR also covers gases under pressure and substances that are corrosive to metals.
Another UK law that governs the control of hazardous substances is the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH, 2002). COSHH applies to virtually all substances hazardous to health, with the exception of asbestos and lead (which have their own regulations) and substances that are hazardous only because they are radioactive, asphyxiants, at high pressure/temperature or have explosive/flammable properties.
COSHH legislation requires:
Employers have a legal requirement to carry out a risk assessment, both under COSHH legislation and within The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 - so it’s important that you have one in place!
The short answer is yes. As laid out in Section 7 of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH, 2002), employers in the UK are required to provide employees working with hazardous materials with "suitable work equipment." This can include drum handling equipment, equipment for the management of spills and floods and transport equipment for gas cylinders. Section 7 also covers the need to provide employees with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
the design and use of appropriate work processes, systems and engineering controls and the provision and use of suitable work equipment and materials
COSHH 2002, s 7(3)(a)
where adequate control of exposure cannot be achieved by other means, the provision of suitable personal protective equipment in addition to the measures required by sub-paragraphs (a) and (b)
COSHH 2002, s 7(3)(c)
IMPORTANT FACT: From 2015-16, according to statistics from the UK Health and Safety Executive, work-related musculoskeletal disorders accounted for 34% of all work days lost to ill health in Britain. The safe transport of hazardous substances is not only important from a legal point of view, it also helps to prevent worker ill health from impacting on productivity. |
Not unless you've carried out a risk assessment. Under section 6 of COSHH 2002, employers must carry out a risk assessment prior to employees performing tasks involving hazardous substances. Employees must be informed of the properties of any hazardous substances, any potential hazards they create and what protective measures need to be taken, especially with regard to the handling of hazardous substances.
Employers are required to carry out risk assessments "regularly." An exact legal time frame isn't specified, but it's necessary to perform one after any significant changes to a process, such as bringing in new machinery, changing chemical formulas, changes in worker exposure times, and so on. If there have been no significant changes, it's good practise to carry out a new risk assesment every 3-5 years.
According to the legislation, employees must be properly informed, trained and supervised at all times. Having HSE safety data sheets on file is not sufficient to comply with COSHH requirements.
Employees working with hazardous materials should be given the following information:
Please note: This checklist offers only general recommendations not tailored to your individual business.
Preparations for the transport of hazardous materials | Done? |
Carry out a risk assessment Before starting any work involving hazardous materials, you are legally required to carry out a risk assessment. Here are some of the questions you should ask:
|
❏ |
Identify protective measures Use your risk assessment to identify suitable protective measures for the handling of hazardous substances:
|
❏ |
Employee training
|
❏ |
Safely transport the hazardous substances! | Done? |
Identify the hazardous substance: Before handling anything, determine what the hazardous substance is and what protective measures are detailed in the operating instructions | ❏ |
Check the label: It is important to check the hazardous substance has been correctly labelled (especially when receiving goods that have been transferred from their original containers). | ❏ |
Wear PPE: Never work with hazardous substances unless you are wearing the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - this also applies to transport! |
❏ |
Check containers for damage: Check any packaging isn't damaged before handling hazardous substances. If there is damage, the container should be replaced to ensure that the hazardous material doesn't leak during handling.
|
❏ |
Close the container tightly: Before transporting containers, make sure the container is tightly closed. The closure cap should be attached to gas cylinders. |
❏ |
Use suitable equipment: Only use suitable equipment and vehicles for the handling of hazardous substances |
❏ |
Attach any necessary locks: Make sure you have good load locks when handling hazardous substances. Equipment such as drum handling devices and gas bottle trolleys are usually equipped with a transport lock (e.g. in the form of a belt or chain), which ensures a secure hold during transport. Suitable load securing sets are available for many products, such as mobile collecting trays.
|
❏ |
Always stay on the right route: If leaving site, always drive on the designated traffic route. |
❏ |
Keep your distance: Keep a sufficient distance between yourself and doors, gates, stairs and passengers (where applicable). |
❏ |
Ensure safe storage: Before storing hazardous substances, make sure you are following the relevant legal requirements regarding the substance. | ❏ |
DENIOS manual handling products reduce transportation risks to a minimum and ensure the safe and efficient handling of your hazardous materials. Below you will find an overview of our product range!
Drum dollies, trolleys and lifters are essential to any manufacturing environment, providing the means for safely and easily moving steel and plastic drums around a work space. In many companies, hazardous substances are stored in these drums, making it even more important that they are transported safely and efficiently. Improper handling of these drums can lead to serious environmental and health risks:
Employees can be affected by the stress of manually moving drums, through lifting and holding drums. Manual handling can lead to tipping or dropping a barrel, which can quickly result in damage to the work area and the uncontrolled spill of hazardous substances – potentially exposing employees and the environment to harmful chemicals.
DENIOS offers an extensive range of work equipment, designed to keep the risks of on-site handling of hazardous substances to a minimum.
Our incredibly popular drum dollys allow for easy manoeuvring of standing barrels, both within the workplace and when transporting over short distances. Thanks to their light, space-saving construction and special manoeuvrability, our drum dollys are ideal for use in areas with limited space.
With a drum trolley, heavy drums can be transported over long distances with significantly reduced effort. An integrated transport lock (such as a belt or chain) ensures a secure hold. Some models have the option of additional functions, e.g. function for loading collecting trays.
DENIOS drum lifters are indispensable to the manufacturing process. They allow energy-saving and precise lifting and lowering of drums, which is carried out by a lifting drawbar or foot hydraulics. Standard integrated steering wheels ensure good manoeuvrability and allow transport over shorter distances.
Ideal for special application situations, such as the handling of salvage barrels or the targeted lifting of a barrel from the rear row. For special barrel handling products, crane attachments or drum tongs are the means of choice. They consist of steel or flexible chain that is simply hooked onto a crane.
Do you need to move drums over long distances and outdoor areas? There's no need to buy new machinery for that. With practical attachments, your current forklift can be modified to meet the needs of your business. Our welded steel construction is a perfect fit for your forklift.
Mobile. Practical. Safe.
Consisting of a special plastic drum trolley with an integrated pump, the DENIOS mobile filling station has been specially developed for the flexible transfer and removal of chemicals and petroleum products at different locations. The system is easy to operate and provides users with a versatile and user-friendly equipment option.
The right pump for every situation
Our new mobile filling systems will be available in several designs. Depending on your business needs and application, you can choose between models with manual, electric and battery-powered pumps.
AVAILABLE SPRING 2020!
Avoid ignition during lifting and handling! When moving barrels with mechanical aids in an Ex Zone (Explosion Hazardous Area), something as small as friction can create a devastating spark. That is why it is vital that you use only specialised equipment in an Ex Zones. Products such as the the DENIOS Secu Ex drum lifter have been constructed to be electrostatically dissipative, so they do not have to be grounded by a directly connected potential equalisation. |
The on-site transport of hazardous substances in small containers - such as canisters and bottles - requires the utmost care and attention. One of the most common risks that this poses for businesses is the accidental spillage of hazardous substances during the handling process.
This is when you need a DENIOS expert handling solution. DENIOS mobile spill trays and sump pallets have been designed to prevent losses and drips, whilst being compatible with a full-range of hazardous substances.
Unsure of what you need? Contact us now on: 01952 811 991 and one of our experts will be happy to advise you.
Mobile collection trays are available in different designs and dimensions. We offer effective handling and storage solutions for the safe handling of hazardous substances within confined spaces and passageways. Thanks to smooth steering wheels and optional sliding brackets, they are comfortable and safe to manoeuver.
The transport trolley basic model is ideal for transporting canisters and small containers to filling stations. The unloading of containers is not necessary – thanks to the stable swivel basket. This is customisable for canisters from 15 to 30 litres and enables time-saving and energy-saving filling directly from the transport trolley.
Transport of hazardous substances carries an increased risk of accidents and leaks. Our safe transport trolleys are made of high-resistant plastic, which is ideal when dealing with aggressive chemicals. They have been manufactured to be oil, alkali and acid resistant as well as corrosion free (due to the lack of steel components).
The transport of gases under pressure poses a particular risk to worker safety, as they have the potential to cause substantial injuries to both people and the workplace.
This is why DENIOS provides a range of gas bottle trolleys and transport frames - that we strongly recommend for customers who are engaging in regular handling activities involving gas cylinders. Our products prevent gas cylinders from falling over, rolling away or being pushed during transport.
Gas cylinders can weigh over 70kg, which creates a variety of risks for both workers and production areas during manual handling exercises. These risks can be avoided with a DENIOS gas cylinder trolley, which allows the safe handling of gas cylinders without any heavy lifting.
If you need to transport large quantities of gas cylinders over long distances, then you need special equipment. Carriage by forklift, lift truck or crane should only be carried out if gas cylinders are placed on specially designed transport pallets. In the DENIOS range, you will find transport frames for gas cylinders as well as crane-free gas cylinder pallets.
The safe handling of hazardous substances begins with suitable packaging. Packaging must be tailored to the properties and quantities of the hazardous materials that you are handling. Whether it's dangerous liquids or critical solids - you'll find a comprehensive range of safety containers here at DENIOS.
Many of our products have a UN transport permit for legally compliant transport outside of business premises.
In most production environments, hazardous liquids need to be used on a daily basis. We understand the importance of making sure they are handled safely and efficiently, so we've created the DENIOS FALCON product line - designed to meet the diverse needs of businesses across the UK.
Our line of FALCON products includes a comprehensive range of solutions - made of steel, stainless steel and highly resistant HDPE - for the storing, transporting and dispensing of hazardous substances. FALCON storage and transport containers are ideal for when you need quick access to small quantities or have specific transport requirements.
Containers for hazardous liquids
If you work with hazardous liquids, you will need safe and suitable containers. If materials need to go off-site, you will need specially approved products to safety contain and transport hazardous liquids. From small containers, hundred litre barrels and large collection tanks, DENIOS has got you covered:
Containers for hazardous solids
Dangerous solids can come in a variety of forms - from granules and powders through to metal residues, pastes and waste materials (such as cleaning cloths, which can be contaminated by hazardous liquids.) With the increasing use of lithium-ion technology, the safe storage and removal of old and possibly critical energy storage systems has become an important issue for businesses. Here at DENIOS, you will find the right solution for your business:
Need advice on the right equipment for your business?
Contact DENIOS today and one of our team of experts will be happy to talk you through handling and storage solutions.
01952 811 991
Request Callback