Top Things To Consider While Storing Aerosol Cans

Most people are very familiar with aerosol cans; they are in almost every household and contain a variety of products from cooking oils to deodorant to shaving cream, insecticides to paints and lubricants. Usually, we do not think about aerosol can storage as being important. They can be seen in many shops and supermarkets on the shelf and do not appear to have any type or form of safety provision even though they are classed as Class 2 Dangerous Goods in Australia.

The law actually states that aerosol cans must be stored and handled legally and safely as they present quite a range of hazards if they are compromised because of their pressurized nature and the variety of often toxic or flammable contents.

Aerosol cans are a common and useful product that can be found in almost every home and workplace, but there are some things that need to be considered while storing them such as:

The hazards of aerosol cans

In a stable environment such as an air conditioned supermarket or home aerosols are relatively safe even if their contents are pressurized and flammable. But when they are in an industrial environment or left in a parked car in the hot sun, they can become very unstable and do not take a lot to set them off causing an accident.

Retail Storage tips

• Ideal storage areas are cool and well ventilated
• Aerosols should be stored away from entrances and adequate arrangement should be made for rapid emergency evacuation of all personal
• Aerosols should be stored away from any heat source or direct sunlight
• Aerosol storage must be in non smoking areas
• Extreme care must be taken when opening or splitting packs of aerosols to avoid damage and their packages must be handled carefully
• Aerosols should be stacked upright and level without heavy objects placed on top of them
• Aerosols should not be stored in basements or poorly ventilated areas. Aerosol propellants are usually heavier than air so will settle in low areas of buildings if they leak
• Proper disposal of aerosols is important and they should never be incinerated full or empty they are likely to explode

Common work related aerosol accidents

Many work related accidents occur because aerosol cans become over heated such as being too close to a hot stove in a restaurant, left in the sun while working outside or in a vehicle and then being shaken before use of coming into contact with a sharp object

Aerosol cans should be stored in Aerosol storage cages

Aerosols should not be stored in a flammable liquids cabinet because in the event of leakage there is nowhere for the dangerous or flammable gasses to be safely stored or to dissipate creating a potentially dangerous situation

Aerosol can storage  are designed to safely store and protect aerosol cans either in their original packaging or stored loosely and are ventilated to allow the gasses to dissipate. Aerosol cages are constructed to be strong enough to provide adequate protection for the cans in the event of a fire preventing them from exploding or to contain them if they explode.

The amount of consideration you need to give to aerosol can storage depends on your particular needs and the conditions under which you use and store those aerosol cans.