Overview
Quantity of chemicals outside of storage is greater than the minimal feasible quantity. Most common example: flammable liquids (see images).
In general, chemicals that pose a physical hazard (for example, reactivity, flammability, etc.) should be in their designated and proper storage location when not immediately in use. Only that amount necessary for the immediate operation(s) should be outside of storage. This checklist item is distinguished from CHE05. This checklist item, CHE07, is cited when proper storage locations are available, but not being used as they should; whereas CHE05 is cited when proper storage locations are not available.
This checklist item is not concerned with chemicals that do not present a physical hazard such as buffers or agars.
Common examples of unacceptable quantities of hazardous chemical containers outside of proper storage units relate to flammable liquids. Flammable liquids are the most common hazardous chemical by volume one will encounter in UNL laboratories. The images show a couple of things
- Notice the red cans on the bottom shelf of the cart in Exhibit A. These are safety cans. Flammable liquids can be stored outside of flammable liquid cabinets if stored in a safety can. A safety can is defined as “a listed container of not more than 5-gal capacity, having a spring-closing lid and spout cover and so designed that it will safely relieve internal pressure when subjected to fire exposure.”
- There are plastic jugs and several 20L (5 gal) containers with flammable contents sitting in the lab (Exhibit B), not in use, and not being stored in an appropriate flammable cabinet.The blue shipping cans are not safety cans. This situation would be cited under checklist item CHE07.