If your workplace handles hazardous chemicals, storage of said chemicals requires serious consideration. Inadequate storage can put workers at risk, increase the chance of spills or fires, and cause environmental damage.

There’s compliance to think about, too. Regulators tend to be very clear (and very unforgiving) when chemicals are stored incorrectly. In addition to fines, you can face a shutdown and risk reputational damage. The latter can be particularly difficult to recover from in this day and age.

So the real question isn’t whether chemical storage deserves attention; of course it does. It’s whether your current setup would still stand up under an inspection, an equipment failure, or a heatwave that pushes systems past their comfort zone.

Understand What You’re Storing

Before you think about containers or the space you can afford for storage, you need to know exactly what chemicals you’re storing. Flammable liquids, corrosive acids, and toxic solids all behave differently, and require different handling.

For example, flammable chemicals require controls that limit ignition sources and vapour buildup, while corrosives need materials that won’t degrade over time. Oxidisers, on the other hand, need separation from anything that could burn. So classification matters.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS) paperwork is essential here, not just for compliance but because it guides container selection, segregation rules, temperature limits, and spill response planning.

According to Safe Work Australia, chemical incompatibility can cause explosions, toxic gas release, corrosion of containers, and other dangerous outcomes, so segregation and correct storage solutions are key to managing risk.

Choose Storage Equipment That Matches the Risk

Storage containers and systems carry more responsibility than people often assign them. A drum, tank, or cabinet must hold its contents safely over time, not just on day one. Material compatibility sits at the centre of that decision.

While steel may seem like a good material for storage due to its durability, it’s not designed for corrosive liquids such as acids or alkalis. Polyethylene and other engineered plastics tend to outperform steel in corrosive environments, which is why many facilities choose corrosion-resistant tanks made from these materials to reduce long-term failure risk.

Secondary containment also matters. Bunding, spill pallets, and double-walled tanks limit the damage if a primary container fails. Environmental regulators increasingly expect this as a baseline as well.

Indoor Storage: Control, But With Constraints

Indoor chemical storage gives you control over temperature, access, and security. That’s the upside. The downside shows up when ventilation, fire separation, or space planning fall short.

For one, ventilation absolutely needs to be able to handle worst-case vapour release, not just routine use. Two, you need fire-rated cabinets and segregated storage rooms to reduce the spread of an incident. And three, you need access controls as a security measure to prevent unauthorised handling (or well-meaning mistakes by untrained staff).

But space planning deserves attention, too. Overcrowded storage areas can be a real problem as they increase spill risk. They also make inspections harder.

Outdoor Storage: Exposure Changes Everything

If you have limited indoor space or are handling large chemical volumes, outdoor storage may seem like the perfect solution. While it can be in these situations, it also carries certain issues Namely, heat, UV exposure, rain, and wind all affect chemical stability and container lifespan. You might walk past a tank every morning and see nothing wrong, but that plastic could be slowly warping under the sun.

If you have no other option but outdoor storage, it’s essential to pick weather-resistant materials and secure anchoring to prevent tipping or vandalism.

Drainage design is critical here. A spill outdoors spreads faster and travels further, especially during heavy rain. Bund walls, isolation valves, and regular inspection are what keep a site running safely.

Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) data links outdoor chemical spills to long-term soil and water contamination. To avoid exorbitant cleanup costs and keep both your team and the surrounding environment out of trouble, it’s worth doing storage properly from the start.

Segregation Rules

Storing incompatible chemicals apart sounds simple. In practice, it’s where many facilities struggle. Why? Because labels fade, staff rotate, and oftentimes, temporary storage becomes permanent.

This is why physical separation works better than signage alone. Separate cabinets, dedicated zones, and clear colour-coding reduce reliance on memory and training alone. And compatibility charts posted where chemicals are stored (not buried in manuals) make better decisions easier in the moment.

But segregation doesn’t stop at storage. Transfer areas, waste holding points, and empty container zones also need attention. Residues still react.

Compliance As An Ongoing Task

In Australia, chemical storage rules fall under a mix of WHS laws, environmental protection regulations, and local council requirements, and each one has its own nuances. Keeping up can feel overwhelming, but ignoring it is not a solution. What helps are regular audits.

Walk through your storage areas like an inspector would. Look at labels, spacing, ventilation, bunding, and containment. If you notice anything that makes you hesitate, flag it because that’s exactly the thing an inspector would flag, too. Documentation matters too, but only if it reflects reality. Inspectors compare written procedures with what they see on the floor, and gaps raise red flags.

Safe Work Australia reports that businesses with documented chemical management plans and routine inspections experience significantly fewer serious incidents. That’s not surprising. Structure reduces guesswork.

Training and Culture Still Matter

Even the best storage system is bound to fail if people bypass it. This is why training needs to go beyond induction sessions. Short refreshers, toolbox talks after near misses, and visible leadership involvement all reinforce expectations.

And culture plays a role, too. When staff feel responsible for safety (not just compliant), issues tend to surface earlier. Small leaks, damaged labels, or poor housekeeping often get reported before they escalate.