With soaring temperatures nudging the barometer into the 40s this week, Agsafe recommends chemical users and suppliers perform some simple safety checks on their stored products.
The effect of heat can reduce the effectiveness of a product and UV radiation can degrade plastics, possibly rendering containers unsafe for transportation.
- Read the label. Some chemicals don’t perform as well after they have been exposed to high temperatures, so check your labels and safety data sheets and move heat-sensitive products into cooler storage areas.
- Always keep chemicals out of direct sunlight. A combination of UV radiation and high temperatures could compromise product quality however if containers can’t be moved, cover them with a tarpaulin as a temporary solution.
- Single-skin sheds such as shipping containers heat up very quickly. Installing an extractor fan is recommended to draw in cooler air, enabling better control of the temperature.
- To increase ventilation, open doors on hot days, if it’s safe to do so. Open doors and windows can help improve airflow in addition to rooftop whirlybirds, however it is recommended that lockable screens are fitted to exterior doors and windows.
- A permanent solution is to install a temperature-controlled unit with insulation construction, to control extremes of heat and cold year-round.