DANGEROUS GOODS CABINETS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• What are dangerous goods?
  • 
    Dangerous goods are substances with properties that, if not properly controlled, pose potential hazards to health and safety, property, or the environment. These substances can be corrosive, flammable, combustible, explosive, oxidizing, or water reactive. The Dangerous Goods Act 1985 defines the criteria for classifying these substances.

• What dangerous goods cabinet do I need?
  • 
    The first step of selecting a storage cabinet is conducting a risk assessment on the type and variety of dangerous goods at your workplace. It is essential that the client identifies the type of dangerous goods and the hazards they present, together with the quantity of chemicals to be stored, then to select the correct class and size of cabinet to suit the chemicals.
    
    When it comes to dangerous goods, one should assess the goods in use by reviewing the SDS (Safety Data Sheet) for each substance, which will outline storage, handling, and disposal guidelines along with any potential health, first aid and emergency response and firefighting measures as well as transport information, the chemical’s stability, potential reactivity, and its environmental effects.

• What are the 9 classes of dangerous goods?
  • 
    

    • Class 1 – Explosives

    • Class 2 – Gases

    • Class 3 – Flammable Liquids

    • Class 4 – 4.1 Flammable Solids, 4.2 Spontaneously Combustible & 4.3 Dangerous When Wet

    • Class 5 – Oxidizing Substances And Organic Peroxides

    • Division 5.1 Oxidizing Substances

    • Division 5.2 Organic Peroxides

    • Class 6 – Toxic And Infectious Substances

    • Division 6.1 Toxic Substances

    • Division 6.2 Infectious Substances

    • Class 7 – Radioactive Material

    • Class 8 – Corrosive Substances

    • Class 9 – Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods

• My workplace has more than one class of dangerous goods
  • 
    Each class must be stored separately in their respective class storage cabinets. If you need assistance on conducting audits, undertaking assessments, and in best practices, you may consider engaging a dangerous goods consultant.

• Do I need a poly or metal corrosive cabinet?
  • 
    Certain chemicals can be stored in metal cabinets, while others are more suitable for storage in poly cabinets. This is determined by what you are storing, the SDS and manufacturers storage recommendations. Keep in mind no material is impervious to all corrosive chemicals.
    
    Types of corrosives that can be stored in a metal corrosive storage cabinet may include:

    • Corrosives with a pH level closest to neutral - including sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, hypochlorous acid.

    
    
    Types of corrosives that must be stored in a polyethylene storage cabinet may include:

    • Acids – including nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid

    • Alkali – including calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide

• Can I repair my indoor metal cabinet or order extra parts?
  • 
    Spare parts & shelves are available to suit our current indoor metal cabinets, with black recessed handles. Please email info@prattsafety.com.au with the size and class of the cabinet, along with what parts you require.

• Do I need to ground or earth my flammable cabinet?
  • 
    AS1940 advises on the elimination of sources of ignition from inside the cabinet. Examples include naked flames, exposed incandescent material, electrical welding arcs, mechanical sparks, electrical discharge due to static electricity, and electrical, electronic, or mechanical equipment not suitable for use in hazardous areas. It also advises on the exclusion distance of 3m outside the cabinet.
    
    We do recommend the cabinet be earthed to reduce the potential of Static Electricity discharge, which can be a source of ignition. All our metal indoor cabinets are supplied with a grounding wire and connection for ease of arranging. However, ultimately, this is a decision based on the site during their risk assessment.