Chemical warehousing: Designed for safety

The business of any company depends upon the efficiency of manufacturing, supply chain management, marketing and commercials. Supply chain efficiency depends on the effectiveness of logistics which includes warehouse operations. And warehouse operations can be effective provided warehouse design, layout, infrastructure, processes, staff and safety norms, transportation are appropriate to the requirements, especially in the case of chemical warehousing. That’s exactly where a chemical warehousing expert like Avvashya CCI steps in.

It is important that the main objective of chemical warehousing is aligned with the company business strategy. Normally this revolves around safe and secure product storage and inventory management, beginning with functions like receipt, storage and delivery of the chemicals. Above all, corresponding relevant national and international legal requirements have got to be met.

Warehouse design for chemicals

Storage of chemicals is the fundamental function of any chemical warehouse – the chemicals could either be hazardous or non-hazardous and the nature of the chemicals would be a key determining factor in the warehouse design and safety protocols.

Listed below are some factors that warehouse design must take into account and ensure:

• Desired utility of space
• Orderly layout
• Safe product storage as per hazard levels
• Safe warehouse operations
• Emergency handling
• Complete security of warehouse

Architecture of safety

The concept of an inherently safe design is the most important part of the design – such as creating a stable building constructed for built-in protection. This should cover design of walls, floor, roof, ventilation, retention water catchment basins, fire walls, fire exits, etc.

The layout should take care of product storage, loading/unloading, parking, utility, safety equipment and welfare facilities. The chemical warehouse should ideally be situated away from residential areas, heavily populated places, and should have good connectivity to roads and emergency centers like hospitals, police controls, ambulances, fire services etc.

Market leading and experienced chemical warehousing service providers like Avvashya CCI are adept at offering access to nationwide facilities that meet these stringent standards. Most of their warehouses have been designed as per the best modern day designs ensuring that customers’ cargo is carefully stored with all the required safety and security compliances in place. It is no wonder then that a number of marquee customers like BASF, Evonik, DuPont, The Dow Chemical Company, Covestro, etc. rely on Avvashya CCI as their trusted partner for chemical warehousing.

Appropriate product storage and handling

Product storage plays an important role, as product characteristics may have health, safety and environmental hazards. Hazardous chemicals improperly stored and improperly handled in the warehouse can cause fire or explosion resulting in injury of personnel at site, as well as the neighboring areas and loss of property inside the warehouse and surrounding areas.

Compatibility of new cargo has to be ensured with the existing cargo in the warehouse. This is imperative for all hazardous cargo and is given utmost attention across Avvashya CCI’s chemical warehouses. This is done to avoid any type of chemical reactions happening between chemical cargo stored adjacent to each other, which could create potentially huge disasters.

At Avvashya CCI’s warehouses, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) of all cargoes to be stored at the warehouse are sought in advance. Safety Managers then check them to ascertain their chemical properties, basis which they recommend suitable storage instructions.

Conclusion

At Avvashya CCI’s chemical warehouses, thinking safety precedes designing safety. It is necessary to think ahead about the unique requirements of chemicals, their reactions and the repercussions before taking the desired steps to plan backwards and ensure safety for the staff, the people living in the surrounding areas, the customers and the environment.

About the author:

V.Raju is a logistics and supply chain veteran who is currently the Senior Vice President – CL – Chemical, Pharma & Food Sector, at AvvashyaCCI. He regularly addresses students, participates in panel discussions and shares in-depth perspectives in numerous publications and trade magazines.