wear and creates greater accident potential. Proper loading and unloading of hazardous materials
will prevent damage. In most cases, loose material is subjected to more damage than properly
packed material. Adequate planning should precede any loading operation, including factors
such as the carrier's center of gravity, the placement of heavy material on the bottom, the carrier's
rated capacity, and the possibility of packaging, container, and product damage while the material
is in transit.
B. Required daily inspections should be performed to identify deficiencies that, if not
corrected, might result in a malfunction or failure and, in turn, a mishap resulting in a spill or
chemical release. Required periodic and regular servicing must be performed and documented to
provide a maintenance history.
C. Manual handling of hazardous materials must also be carefully considered. Accidents and
injuries frequently arise from employee attempts to manually handle material that should have
been moved using mechanized equipment. Actions must be compatible with human strength,
speed, accuracy, and reach limitations.
D. MHE shall conform to the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.176(a) and 1910.178.
7.10 Housekeeping. The immediate supervisor will inspect the workplace daily to identify
housekeeping and safety deficiencies. Housekeeping rules will be established and explained.
Adequate lighting will be provided at all times. Machines, equipment, and working spaces will
be kept clean and orderly. Scrap and waste will be cleaned up as soon as work is completed.
Broken straps, exposed nails, or wire from containers or unit loads will be removed. Any spilled
flammable liquids, greases, or other dangerous or slippery substances will be immediately
cleaned up. Ample space will be provided in aisles and work areas to avoid congestion.
7.11 Condition of Stored Material
A. Preceding chapters have addressed the requirement that hazardous materials be subjected to
a thorough inspection upon receipt and prior to being placed in storage. The potential for spills
and chemical releases can be significantly reduced by early detection of unsatisfactory conditions
or deficiencies caused by improper storage, extended periods of storage, or the inherent
deterioration characteristics of the material. The SPCC must, therefore, provide for an effective
cyclic inspection program. Effective and efficient execution of inspections will ensure that
stored material is inspected at intervals indicated by the assigned shelf-life code, inspection
frequency code, or type of storage afforded the material. Inspections should also be oriented
toward detection of improper segregation of hazardous materials.
B. The importance of an effective shelf-life program for hazardous materials cannot be
overemphasized. Certain products can become increasingly hazardous under prolonged and
unfavorable storage conditions. Calcium hypochlorite, for example, is unstable and has a very
limited shelf life, even under optimum storage conditions. If the decomposition process is
allowed to continue unchecked, the material will, under the right circumstances, present a fire
and/or explosion risk.
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