While it may seem counter-intuitive, dangerous goods are important in many industries and in some instances part of our everyday lives. The fuel you put in your car, for example, is a hazardous substance, but most of us don’t think twice when filling up our cars.
In most instances, dangerous or hazardous goods can be safely transported and stored, as long as this is done correctly and follows the standards set out by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA). If you want a safe way to store and transport dangerous goods, a dangerous goods shipping container is a good option.
What are dangerous goods?
In New Zealand, there are nine classes of hazardous substances, which range from explosives (class 1) and flammable liquids (class 3), to substances toxic to the environment (class 9). According to Worksafe, hazardous or dangerous goods are any product or chemical that has properties that are explosive, flammable, oxidising, toxic, corrosive, or toxic to the environment.
When working with these substances, you may need to wear protective gear, receive training to handle them safely, and ensure they are stored and transported safely.
For the purposes of transportation, NZTA classifies dangerous goods as substances and articles that have explosive, flammable, toxic, infectious, corrosive, or environmentally hazardous properties and containers that have held dangerous goods.
When transporting dangerous goods, it’s important that they are secured and safely contained to prevent spillages and the mixing of incompatible chemicals. This is where shipping containers specially designed for the storage and transportation of hazardous or dangerous goods hold an advantage over other options.
What is a dangerous goods shipping container?
A dangerous goods container is a 10ft, 20ft or 40ft shipping container that has been specially designed and built for the storage and transportation of dangerous goods and which complies with strict New Zealand health and safety standards.
Depending on the types of dangerous goods you want to store or transport, this will likely include:
- Additional ventilation to ensure proper airflow
- Bund, with metal grate flooring to allow for drainage of liquids
- Discharge valves to safely drain any dangerous liquids spilt in the container.
The dangerous goods shipping containers supplied by NZBOX are designed and constructed for the domestic storage of Class 3 flammables and chemicals such as paints, thinners, oils, and diesel, and they are approved under Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HNSO) Regulations.
Both NZBOX’s 10ft and 20ft containers are high cube to provide extra headroom. The 10ft dangerous goods container comes standard with end doors, while the 20ft container features side opening doors for easier loading and access as well as an end door.
They each come with three discharge valves for spills and eight large vents for increased airflow. They are painted in safety yellow as standard but can be painted in any other colour if required.
4 tips to store hazardous and dangerous goods safely
If you work with dangerous goods, it’s likely you’ll need to store them. To do this safely, here are some basic guidelines to follow:
- Keep lids securely on the containers holding the dangerous substance. This helps minimise any fumes and spills if the container tips over.
- Make sure the space you’re storing dangerous substances in is well ventilated or has climate control if the substance requires it.
- If you’re decanting a substance, make sure the container you’re decanting into is suitable.
- Don’t store incompatible substances together. This includes those that can cause an explosion, will combust, or become a toxic material when combined with another substance.
When to use a dangerous goods shipping container
Dangerous goods storage containers are a great way to safely store any hazardous or dangerous substances. They provide ventilation and drainage and can be customised to include climate control, or other features, to enhance their safety.
They are durable and weather tight and able to withstand the rough handling associated with transportation. Dangerous goods containers are also reusable. You can either use them purely for the storage or transportation of dangerous goods or, repurpose them for other types of storage or transportation.
They are also easy to transport. Just like any other shipping container, dangerous goods shipping containers come in a range of standard sizes, making them easy to load onto a truck for shipping. NZBOX can deliver your dangerous goods container on a swinglift, Hiab, or flat deck truck.
Dangerous goods containers can also be modified. If a standard NZBOX 10ft or 20ft container doesn’t quite meet your requirements, it can be altered to accommodate your changes.
Need advice on a dangerous goods shipping container?
Dangerous goods shipping containers are an ideal way to protect dangerous substances from the elements and safeguard the surrounding environment. NZBOX has an excellent range of dangerous goods containers. Get in touch with our team today to discuss your requirements and get advice.