Working as a chemical specialist demands constant awareness of threats to the safety of your teams and your environment. Although safety is a top priority, improvements in safety can get lost in the shuffle of day-to-day demands on the business. Managing costs, improving client relationships, and dealing with ever-changing carrier capacity are all top-of-mind concerns, but safety can be your competitive advantage.
Investments in training and equipment can help you become the service provider of choice for chemical clients. Here are some ways to improve safety at your facility that will add value to your whole operation.
1. Invest in Training Improvements
COSHH dictates the need for training for anyone who must interact with chemicals. While transport and logistics employees do engage in chemical safety training, there is always room for improvement.
To help improve your training, it’s always smart to get your teams involved in the design of the training. Doing so means more than asking them about their preferred formats or printing of chemical safety data sheets. It requires you to dive in deeper to understand how workers interpret the risk in their day-to-day tasks and help them manage the realities of working with chemicals rather than following a textbook methodology.
You should aim to improve your chemical safety training every time you run it. If you do, then employees should feel informed about how to safely complete the work they need to do everyday. If they do, you’ll have fewer incidents, increased productivity, improved compliance, and a stronger case to make to prospective clients.
2. Check for Gaps with External Audits
Every company has gaps in their chemical safety program. No one operates perfectly. Even when you set up a strong COSHH compliance program, circumstances on the ground change. Whether it’s a new regulation or the introduction of a new chemical hazard, it’s important to have strong partnerships with external parties and vendors. They can see your chemical management program with both fresh eyes and the experience of consulting with many other companies.
Shoring up those gaps will help you run a streamlined operation, and you can share the results of your work with potential clients and partners to help grow your business.
3. Investment in Proper Equipment
Chemicals can’t be managed like other freight: each individual chemical has clearly-defined packaging, handling, and storage requirements. To meet these requirements and manage the risk associated with chemicals, you need the right equipment.
The equipment needed sits across three types:
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Chemical storage containers – Spill pallets & Bunds, Bunded Stores.
- Spill response equipment – Spill Kits & absorbants.
Transport and logistics companies are required by law to provide all three when they manage hazardous chemicals. However, going beyond basic compliance offers a competitive advantage. For example, safe chemical storage will help prevent spoilage, spills, and mixing of chemicals, which protects clients products. A custom storage solution can help you win clients with incredibly strict needs because they have confidence in your ability to store their product safely.
Win More Clients by Choosing Safe Chemical Storage
Safety is a regulatory requirement, but going beyond those requirements can help your business stand out as an expert in the chemical transport and logistics niche. To get there, you’ll need the help of your team and your vendor partners.
Safety Storage Systems offer 20 years of chemical storage expertise. Work with our technical teams to design custom chemical storage solutions designed to meet your requirements and exceed your client’s expectations. Get in touch to talk to a chemical storage expert.