Getting it Right with Safe Storage
Over the years, we have been accustomed to getting maintenance and tasks handled for us; this is from fixing some plumbing work, repainting our homes to various other chores. But since the pandemic, it has forced people to find creative ways to manage their time as there cooped up in their apartments. As a result, many hardware stores in Australia have been making a good sale with the number of purchased items.
With all these DIY projects taking place, the dangers of these projects have been publicized. However, there is still some knowledge gap on how we can adequately store away the leftover paints, thinners, or any other flammables you might have purchased for your home improvement project.
When looking at the strata titles, the owners have set some guidelines you must follow by the Better Health Victoria.
Six essential guidelines to follow
- After completing your home projects, you need to ensure that these wastes are properly stored away.
- Unused wastes and chemicals need to be disposed of in the right manners as stipulated in the community’s guidelines.
- For the chemicals you are storing, ensure these have been kept in their original containers and are appropriately labeled. The lids need to be tightly secured to avoid any spills taking place.
- For the used containers, these need to be identified and stored away. Ensure these are kept away from the curious children within the block.
- All protective clothing and equipment need to be stored away in a safe area; these should be far from the chemical substances to avoid any accidents.
- Each product has some instruction set on how to use and store it away; try and follow each of these instructions to keep your community safe.
A quick recap on the essential guidelines
Any flammable liquid that you have needs to be kept away from heat; the acids kept far away from alkali products, pesticides should be stored in a dry and cool area, and ensure you have kept all the chemicals far away from any flames.
What counts as hazardous?
When living within a community, you need to be extra mindful of what you do, thus making it essential to understand what counts as hazardous. These are flammable, explosive, or toxic substances, and if not stored away correctly, could lead to a disaster. Some common examples of these are items like paint thinners that we purchase when trying to change up the look of our homes, used or old batteries can be dangerous, the different cleaners we use in our homes, ink cartridges, used mobile phones, as you can see the list is endless.
Do not dispose of these substances in your regular trash, as they can be very dangerous. It is also important to note; these hazardous chemicals cannot be poured down your drain, sink gutters, or vent toilets; it is an illegal act as it can cause severe damage within your community. We understand the need to keep your home safe, but before disposing of these items, take some time and contact your local council on the best way to dispose of such substances. They mostly advise dropping it offer at the local depot for proper disposal. If this was not of help, reach out to the state-based schemes, as they can further assist in the best way forward.
Thus, ensure you reduce any risks of poisonings, accidents, air pollution, or other dangers by carefully storing our unused items.
Tips to remember
Taking some extra time in finding the best way to dispose of hazardous items will save you a lot of time and money. Because if items are not adequately disposed of, you could attract a penalty of up to $1,000,000 and could be coupled with a seven-year sentence. Ensure you keep the safety of your community as your main priority.
The labeled poisonous items or have a caution tag need extra care from you; avoid spillage and keep such substances away from a flame. Remember the six guidelines discussed above provided by Better health Victoria; this should keep your family safe, allowing you to enjoy the strata community for years to come. Safety starts with you.
