It’s so obvious it almost goes without saying: Store all hazardous materials safely.

Yet we’ve all seen instances of this not happening. Gas tanks left in a corner. A chemical drum too close to a heating vent.

Unsafe storage endangers everyone. So, as Part 2 of our HazMat article series, we’re covering safe storage procedures for various hazmat types.

If you currently store hazmat in your facilities – Let this article be a reminder to keep up the good work!

If your team doesn't store hazmat now – Share this article around as a reminder that hazmat can come in, and everyone should be familiar with its safe storage options.

HazMat Types & Containers to Consider

Warehousing teams will usually receive hazmat pre-packaged in containers. We offer this reference more as awareness for handling & storing those containers.

• Types of Hazmat to Consider:
  • Chemicals (acids, paints, solvents)
  • Gases (oxygen, acetylene)
  • Heavy-Loaded Containers
  • Heavy Metals
  • Liquid Fuels (LPG, diesel)
  • Sharp-Edged Materials
  • Waste Materials
     
• Containers Used as Standard:
  • Drums
  • Gas Cylinder Tanks
  • Hermetically Sealed Cases
  • Lockboxes
  • Steel Boxes/Crates
  • Wooden Crates
     
• Material Concerns to Keep in Mind:
  • Corrosion of container seals triggering leaks
  • Crush Risk (to product and to personnel!)
  • Flammability
  • Pollution of Other Products
  • Toxics
  • Weight
     

Now that we have the scope of hazmat containers fresh in mind, let’s lay out safe storage guidelines for all of them.

NOTE: Any hazmat container may have its own specialized instructions for storage. Those supersede any other procedures.

Storage Indoors or Outdoors: Where to Put the HazMat?

This is where hazmat type is the biggest factor. Some hazmat types can easily store indoors side by side with regular product. Others must remain outdoors in specialized containment units to minimize fire/toxic risk. Still others could store in either place.

Proper storage containers will display the better locale, but as a rule of thumb, here’s some guidelines: 

• Outdoor Storage Only: Liquid fuels, chemicals (some, e.g. solvents)
• Indoor Storage Only: Gas cylinders, heavy metals, chemicals (some, e.g. paint)
• Indoor/Outdoor Storage Flexibility: Waste materials, sharp-edged materials, heavy-loaded containers

Designation: Everyone Knows Where It Is

Once you know where to store the hazmat, the next step is to create designated hazardous material zones there. These can take many forms depending on the hazmat type:

• Lockers: Small boxes, sealed cases
• Caged-off spaces: Large drums, tanks
• Outdoor containment units: Crates, large-scale storage, toxic & highly-flammable materials
• Specialized/Dedicated Rack: Can hold drums, crates, boxes

Zones must be engineered to withstand risks to the hazmat and to people, such as leaks, fire, and spill containment.

Always store hazmat away from heat sources and direct sunlight. Label the zones clearly at all access points.

Climate Control: What’s the Ideal Temperature?

Bear in mind the climate in your hazmat storage. It’s a silent influence on some (not all) materials.

Avoid extreme cold or heat in environments where you store gas cylinders, chemicals, and liquid fuels.

• Too Cold: Spill risk from freeze-related expansion breaking seals.
• Too Hot: Explosion risk from gas expansion.

If you store multiple hazmat types in a climate-controlled space, take the average of the materials’ marked NEC temperature ranges. This may require moving one or more materials to their own separate spaces.

Stacking: Yes? No? When?

Can you safely stack ANY hazmat type? Yes, there’s a few. Just not all.

Waste materials can stack if properly packaged, as well as liquid fuels within some containers (though the container type may not stack well).

In most cases, you can use pallet rack to safely store:

• Chemical drums
• Gas cylinders (first level only)
• Lockboxes & steel containers

Stacking is fine within the rack’s weight restrictions. See our previous article on safe transport by weight.

Never stack toxic waste materials or radioactive materials.

Safety Monitoring: Storage Doesn’t Mean Forget It’s There

Everything’s stacked and stable. Time to keep an eye on it. Not just through daily monitoring but also preparing for accidents in case one happens.

To prepare, keep 3 things in the plan: Training, Emergency Remediation, and Fire Suppression.

1. TRAINING: Make sure team members monitoring hazmat have hazmat-appropriate training.
   1. Use of PPE
   2. Identifying hazmat and their potential effects
   3. Safe handling procedures
   4. Spill containment & reporting of accidents
       
2. EMERGENCY REMEDIATION: Does your security plan include hazmat monitoring & emergency remediation? If not, consult a security expert to add it.
    
3. FIRE SUPPRESSION: Any & all hazmat storage must have a fire suppression system within reach of it. Depending on type, this can range from a simple fire extinguisher to special chemical-based solutions.
   1. Train at least two people on use of these systems, so someone knowledgeable is around in case of fire.
   2. Put a check for these systems on the maintenance plan. Check them once every 6 months at least for function & expiration dates.

Keep a Sharp Eye on HazMat Storage to Keep Teams and Product Safe

We hope you finished reading this article & realized you had all these items covered! Let’s keep it that way going into 2026.

Next month’s newsletter will address good rack & shelving for keeping hazmat stable in warehousing & distribution.

Until next month!

-The Forklifts Group Team

Deal of the Month

2017 Doosan GC50C-5 LPG - $19,900

For our November Deal of the Month, we’re featuring a forklift well-equipped to handle hazmat transport. This is a Doosan GC50C-5 cushion-tire.

This is a larger, LPG, higher-capacity Doosan. It can lift 10,000# and take it anywhere in the warehouse. It also features a three-stage mast.

This truck has only 8,500 hours on it, and has been serviced. It’s currently at our Fresno location and can be shipped.

It’s a great deal on a heavy-lifting Doosan forklift. You can pick it up for only $19,900. Act fast—there’s only one at this price!

To get this Deal, call Forklifts Group at 800-464-3225 and ask for the November Deal of the Month.