Essential Standard No. 18
Temporary Oils / Chemical Storage
Key Messages
 Plan ahead and ensure that temporary storage is situated away from the risk of vehicle
damage and site drainage.
 Make sure that all temporary oil and chemical storage areas are adequately bunded.
 Regularly inspect the containers for damage and make sure bunds are emptied of rainwater.
 Make sure that personnel are informed about the hazards of the chemicals and oils in
temporary storage.
 Provide appropriate PPE and record its issue.
 Provide any necessary emergency equipment e.g. spill kits and tell people how to use them
correctly.
Introduction
This essential standard explains the requirements for the temporary storage and handling of oils and
liquid chemicals on site. The standard is not intended to cover the requirements for storage in fixed
permanent tanks or within bottles / small packages.
Hazards
Temporary storage of oils /chemicals represent a significant hazard in respect of their potential for
wide-scale contamination of a given area in the event of their uncontrolled release. There may be
additional hazards associated with exposure by inhalation or through the skin or by ingestion (in all
cases reference should be made to the Material Safety Data Sheets and COSHH assessments for
information about control measures and PPE.
Planning
Temporary storage areas must be situated on firm level ground with adequate access for delivery
vehicles and any handling equipment.
Consideration must be given to delivery routes on site in order to minimise the likelihood of impact
damage to containers or fixed plant and buildings.
Delivery points should not be on main carriageways through the site and must be capable of clear
demarcation when in use (so as to prevent unauthorised / unintentional access to the area).
Careful planning of site layout is essential to ensure that containers can be easily offloaded from and
loaded onto vehicles. The location must be safe from the risk of damage from other mobile plant and
site traffic.
It may be necessary to provide barriers to prevent accidental impact with the container, the bund and
other equipment.
Labelling
All containers must be clearly labelled with their contents, and all relevant hazard warning labels.
Essential Standard No.18 – Temporary Oils / Chemical Storage
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Essential Standard No. 18
Temporary Oils / Chemical Storage
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Prior to any chemicals being brought on-site, a formal assessment of the required PPE for their use
and emergency situations must be carried out. All persons working with the oils / chemicals must be
issued with the required PPE . Issue of PPE must be recorded.
All necessary PPE and spill kits, for dealing with emergencies, must be available on-site prior to the
chemicals being brought on-site.
Bund Design
All temporary liquid chemical and oil containers must be contained within a bund. The bund should
have a capacity not less than 110% of the largest container, or combination of interconnected
containers, within the bund.
The bund should be resistant to the chemicals being stored (this may entail the used of special
resistant linings). Permanent fixed drains must not be provided.
Where pipework is provided this should not pass through the bund wall. If this is not possible the
material used to seal around the pipe must be resistant to attack by the chemicals being stored.
Areas around bunds must be kept free of clutter, waste materials and other plant etc.
Tanks containing incompatible substances must not be contained within the same bund. Make sure
the material safety data sheets (MSDS) are checked to identify incompatible substances.
Inspection
All temporary oil / chemical tanks must be subjected to external visual inspections for signs of
deterioration, e.g. corrosion, leaking valves, leaking joints, etc., at least monthly. Rainwater must be
regularly pumped out of temporary bunds to ensure they remain effective.
Instruction and Training
All persons working with temporarily stored oils / chemicals must receive instruction and training that
covers the hazards of the chemicals, required personal protective equipment (PPE), operating
procedures, location and use of spill kits and first aid arrangements.
Emergency Arrangements
Procedures for dealing with a spill must be developed covering the action to be taken and the location
of any necessary equipment. Relevant personnel must informed about the procedures and must be
told how to use the spill kits and where to dispose of waste.
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