Key Considerations When Warehousing Hazmat

Maintaining information on Hazardous material is important from a Department of Transportation (DOT) regulatory standpoint, and especially from a storage perspective. When most people think of dangerous goods, they often consider chemicals, flammable liquids, and explosives at the top of the list. While they are correct, the list of hazardous materials is much longer. As a standard rule, any products that fall under the following classifications are considered HAZMAT:

Solids or Liquids that are Flammable
Compressed Gases
Explosives
Radioactive Materials
Liquid Corrosives, Oxidizers, or Organic Peroxide
Biomedicals (equipment or items from the human or primate body)
Cryogenics
Poisons

If in doubt, always refer to the product’s label, safety data sheet (SDS), or manufacturer for details. Handling hazardous materials (hazmat) in warehouses requires meticulous planning and adherence to safety regulations. Knowing the chemical makeup, how it can be stored and any restrictions for transporting are crucial for both the 3PL and first responders. Let’s explore how a Warehouse Management System (WMS) can contribute to the safe and efficient management of hazmat.

The Role of a WMS in Warehousing Hazardous Materials

Regulatory Compliance: The Legal Framework Complying with local, state, and international laws and regulations is critical when handling hazardous materials. An efficient WMS assists by:

Documenting material movements to ensure full compliance and reduce legal risks.
Easily adapt to DOT / SDS updates

Should be configurable
BOL requirements

Automatically generating warning labels and safety data sheets.

Tracking and Traceability: The Safety Net Real-time tracking and traceability are essential for safety and compliance. An advanced WMS allows you to monitor hazmat from origin to destination, providing transparent records for audits or incidents.

Yearly Reporting for Hazmat – easily accessible

Zoning and Secure Storage: The Safety Zones WMS enables the creation of specific zones within the warehouse for hazardous materials. This separation minimizes accident risks. Additionally, the system helps determine optimal storage conditions (e.g., temperature, ventilation) for each material type.

Re-warehousing for Hazmat

Specific items may have certain requirements
Such as, cannot be within certain proximity of other items
Isolation based on zoning – cold room storage / oxidizers go in specific group of locations

Access Control and Security: The Gatekeepers Limiting access to hazmat is crucial for warehouse safety. An advanced WMS ensures that only authorized personnel handle these materials through user IDs and authentication.

Emergency Management: The Quick Response In emergencies, a well-designed WMS sends immediate alerts based on conditions (e.g., temperature changes) in hazmat storage areas, allowing quick risk mitigation.

Customizable Hazmat Comments for Chemical Spill information, contact information with account number for Quick Response / Hazmat Cleanup is essential.
Reduces response time in chemical spills

Conclusion

If you are warehousing Hazmat, your WMS should have the following key components to help you stay in compliance.

Upfront item setup

Easily enter new chemicals based on SDS
Easily configure new UN or Packaging Groups

Manage product based on chemical makeup to determine where to store
Operation planning based on reporting of hazmat materials
Limited access to who can change/manage Hazmat information

Remember that while WMS plays a crucial role, proper training, safety protocols, and continuous improvement are equally vital in hazmat warehousing.

THIS ARTICLE WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY A SUBSTATIAL CONTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION PROVIDED BY A CURRENT CLIENT/USER OF SC CODEWORKS WDLS WMS WITH SIGNIFICANT HAZMAT STORAGE EXPERIENCE. THEIR INSIGHTS INTO THE VALUE OF A WMS WHEN STORING HAZMAT ARE FROM FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE AND GREATLY APPRECIATED.