Environmental hazards - need for proper storage

Environmental hazards are not simply risks are because of the environment, but can also be risks that occur because of a mismanagement of the actual parts of the environment that exist.

Storage

In terms ofenvironmental hazards, proper storage is a key component. There are two reasons for this. Proper storage of it creates a safe and organised workplace, which leads to a more efficient and generally safer working environment.

Things are not stored properly in terms of equipment and tools tend to pose a risk in a number of ways. It sometimes means that people be bothered to look for the proper clothing or tools, and if they can't find them easily do not use them, use someone else's, use improper equipment and tools or simply don't bother.

There is also the risk that materials including tools not can lead to an increased risk of fire.

Objects that are potentially heavy or long need to be stored correctly in order to prevent anyone tripping over them, falling over them, or having the object for them as well.

Certain types of material such as a long piece of wood or metal pipes should be stored on specific types of racks that are designed to hold such pieces of material. Frequently, however these types of materials are stored under benches or tables desks which means they stick out into the open environmentwhere it is difficult to see them, and accidents are caused.

The types of accidents occur where an individual hits themselves on a protruding piece of wood or metal, or trips on it because they cannot see it, and suffer an injury as a result..

It should be remembered that lighting in farm building is normally quite poor, either because there is not much daylight, but also because artificial lighting is normally not that good. It is often quite old and generally substandard. Because of this, it is even to make sure that all materials are stored safely as poor lighting can be a contributory factor.

The other thing to bear in mind when storing any type of object, is that the heavier it is, the nearer to the ground it should be stored. This along with a lot of the advice tends to be really common sense, but amazingly enough many people still ignore it.

It is not always deliberate, but people often do things without really thinking. Putting a really heavy objects on a high shelf means that if any reason it does fall, likely to do significant damage to any individual or piece of machinery in its way. If it is on the ground floor or near to the ground, then it is obviously less likely to fall, and poses much less of an environmental hazard

Storage so far, has tended to focus on solid objects, such as pipes and metalwork, and heavier objects which may be stable or movable. whilst these are important, storage of fuels and any type of lubricant are equally as important, and in many ways more so.

Storage of fuel

Virtually all types of fuel used on a farm or in agricultural practice tend to be fairly flammable, and as such need to be stored safely. this means that in practice, physical care should be taken where the actual storage containers are placed, away from other flammable materials, and away from any area of potential horsebox or buildup of dust.

Fuel containers should have caps on at all times, and only be stored in specific colour designated containers relevant to a particular type of fuel. It should also go without saying that all schools on any type of material should be cleaned up immediately, and designated warning signs put around any spillage areas.