Storing Flammables - Safety Talk

Storing Flammables
Page 1 of 11
© PA Services Group - SMARTsafe 2013 Document Number: ST009
Revision 2013 1.0
Storing Flammables
SAFETY AWARENESS KEPT SIMPLE
SMARTsafe Safety Talks - ST009
This pack contains:
• 8 - Page Talk Text
• 8 - OHP Presentation Slide Pack
Using the talks (Extract “How to Present Safety Talks”):
Plan which topic you want to discuss with your team.
Read through the script before you hold the meeting to
familiarise yourself with the material.
Start the talk with a comment that makes the topic relevant to
the team. For example, if you have seen a number of people
using ladders incorrectly, use this as your opening comment.
Follow the script but don’t read straight from the page. The
script is only a prompt and it will sound better if you use your
own words.
Ask the questions as they appear in the script. It is important
you do this because they are a lead in to the next section of
your talk.
Give the team enough time to answer the questions. Safety
talks can be boring for the team if you are the only one talking.
Hand out the information sheets as they appear in the script.
Don’t hand out all the information sheets at the start of the talk
otherwise there is a temptation for the team to read ahead and
not listen to the points you are making.
Collect the information sheets at the end of the talk so they
can be used again.
Safety Talk Mini - Delivery Pack
To obtain your full Safety Talk Delivery Pack go to: www.smartsafe.com.au
The full Safety Talk pack contains MS Office
Editable documents :
• 8 - Page Talk Text
• 8 - OHP Presentation Slide Pack
• 16 - A5 talk Handout Sheets
• Assessment and Assessment Answers Sheet
• Employee Attendance Register
• A “How to Present Safety Talks Guide”

Storing Flammables
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Revision 2013 1.0
STORAGE OF FLAMMABLE AND EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS
When designing storage areas you must take into account the legal requirements as well as the general
requirements of the industry you are in.
Hand out sheet 1 – Legal storage requirements and reasons
The legal requirements that must be met when storing hazardous materials are:
segregation – the distance required between different materials;
separation – the distance required away from buildings, boundaries and work areas;
containment – the methods used to control spillage;
signs and placards – used to identify materials and hazards; and
information labels and SDS (Safety Data Sheet) - that provide the necessary information to
enable you to work safely with the material.
Information needed to work out these requirements can be found in Guidance Notes and Codes of
Practice published by various government, mining and safety departments.
We talked about separation and segregation. You need to know the difference between them so that
you can store flammable and explosive materials safely.
Separation is the distance the flammable or explosive material is from buildings, boundaries and work
places.
“Why are separation distances important?”
You must separate flammable and explosive material from other areas in order to:
protect the general public;
protect people working or moving around the area;
protect property;
protect the flammable and explosive material from sources of ignition and impact; and
allow responding emergency services people room to move.
Segregation means to keep apart incompatible materials that may react badly with each other. This is
accomplished by keeping a distance between incompatible materials or by erecting barriers.
All dangerous materials and substances are classified in groups and the regulations detail the
segregation requirement for different groups. The quantity of materials also affects the segregation
requirements.
In addition to these legal requirements, you must use Safety Data Sheets [SDS] and industry information
and rational thought when designing and managing storage areas.
This document is a partial preview. Full document download can be found on Flevy:
http://flevy.com/browse/document/storing-flammables-safety-talk-532

Storing Flammables
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Revision 2013 1.0
Causes of fire and explosion include:
smoking around flammable or explosive materials;
sparks generated by hot work;
sparks resulting from metallic objects banging together;
dropping containers of volatile substances;
sparks caused by dropping tools;
static electricity;
mixing incompatible substances because of wrongly labeled containers; and
hazardous substance spills.
When handling flammable and explosive materials, fire and explosion are not the only hazards you need
to be aware of. Contact with some of these materials can cause serious burns, illness or irritation.
The best way to avoid this is to use the correct tools for handling the material and to wear the correct
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
The minimum Personal Protective Equipment should include:
a face shield and chemical goggles;
protective clothing;
foot protection – note that in some circumstances steel cap boots are not to be worn in highly
explosive situations; and
PVC or rubber gloves.
TRANSPORTING FLAMMABLE AND EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS
When using the term “transporting” flammable and explosive materials, we include transporting from site
to site and transportation within a site.
People who drive vehicles that transport flammable and explosive materials must be licenced.
The vehicles used have to comply with standards and must be made of materials that won’t produce
static electricity or be an ignition source of any kind.
They need to be fitted with a static earth connection. This means earthing the vehicle when loading and
unloading.
These requirements are outlined in the relevant Standards.
Transportation within the work place is an area you have more control over.
“What are some of the things you should consider before
moving flammable and explosive materials around the work
place?”

Storing Flammables
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Revision 2013 1.0
SUMMARY
The storage of flammable and explosive materials is covered by regulations and standards. There is a
lot of information available to help in the design, construction and maintenance of storage areas.
You need to make sure that all the flammable and explosive materials have been identified, quantities
are known and that they are well away from people and buildings. You also need to ensure that
incompatible materials are not stored together.
When setting up a storage compound follow the regulations and standards but also look at your own
requirements.
Carry out regular inspections on the flammable and explosive materials and the storage compound.
Discuss the training requirements with your employer.
You should make sure you understand the correct procedures for handling flammable and explosive
materials and what you should do to minimise the chance of an accident.
Remember to take into account your own safety and the safety of others when you are moving
flammable and explosive materials around your work site.
Be aware of the emergency equipment and plans before you enter any area that contains flammable and
explosive materials. Read and understand the signs around the area.
FURTHER REFERENCES FOR THE SUPERVISOR
ISO and/or Country Standards relevant to your country or region some examples:
AS 1940 - The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids
OSHA 1926.152 Flammable Liquids – applicable standards 1910.106(a)(22); 1910.106(b); 1910.106(c);
1910.106(g)(1)(i)(g); 1910.106(g)(4); 1910.106(j)(1); 1910.106(j)(2)
Other References:

Storing Flammables– ST009 © PA Services Group - SMARTsafe 2013
Sheet 1 – Legal Storage Requirements and Reasons
The legal requirements that must be met
when storing hazardous materials are:
• Segregation
• Separation
• Containment
• Signs and placards
• Information labels
The reasons you should follow these
requirements are to:
• Protect the general public
• Protect workers
• Protect property
• Protect material from ignition & impact
• Allow emergency service people clear access

You are handling flammable and
explosive materials when you:
• Refuel your car at a petrol bowsers
• Decant fuels from one container to
another
• Work in a flammable or explosive
materials storage compound
• Are gas welding or cutting
• Spraying pesticides
Sheet 4 – Examples of Handling Hazardous Materials

Sheet 7 – Emergency Equipment
Emergency equipment should include:
• Fire extinguishers
• Absorbent materials
• Water
• Protective equipment
• Warning devices

1
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