Most industrial-chemical incidents in small and mid-sized plants come down to a handful of avoidable storage and handling mistakes, not exotic hazards. This is a practical checklist covering the basics that matter most for the acids, alkalis and oxidizers we supply most often.
Segregate by Hazard Class
Never store acids next to bases — a leak or spill that lets them mix can react violently and release heat or toxic gas. Keep oxidizers (including bleaching powder and hypochlorite products) well away from combustible or organic material, since they can accelerate a fire. When in doubt, store different hazard classes in physically separate areas with their own secondary containment.
Match the Container to the Chemical
Corrosive liquids like ferric chloride and hydrochloric acid need acid-resistant containers — HDPE or FRP-lined — never unlined mild steel, which corrodes quickly and can contaminate the product as well as fail structurally. Always check the product's own storage guidance (shown on each product page on this site) before selecting containers or dosing equipment.
PPE and Ventilation
Gloves, goggles or a face shield, and a chemical-resistant apron are the baseline for handling any corrosive concentrate. Storage and dosing areas should be ventilated, and an eyewash station or safety shower should be reachable within seconds, not minutes, of anywhere corrosives are handled.
Plan for Spills Before They Happen
Bunded or secondary containment around storage tanks and drums keeps a leak from spreading to the rest of the facility. Keep an appropriate spill kit — absorbent material and, where relevant, a neutralizing agent — stocked near storage, not in a store room three buildings away.
Label Clearly and Keep the SDS on Hand
Every container should be clearly labelled with the chemical name, hazard pictograms and the date it was opened. Keep the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) physically accessible near the storage area — not just filed away in an office — so anyone handling the chemical, including in an emergency, can find it immediately.