From: David Roberts <droberts**At_Symbol_Here**DEPAUW.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Flammable Storage Cabinet Issues: Shelving Clips
Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 14:15:44 -0500
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: 69F6C3AB-C3C9-4912-9794-44C09D819050**At_Symbol_Here**depauw.edu
In-Reply-To <55BA4610-6F19-4A75-BAD4-F2E3934B4930**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org>


Just to keep this post going, I wanted to share what happened with us here at DePauw. I can share pics if people are interested, but really nothing critical happened. We moved in to a new building around 2001. At that time we got all new shelving, you name it we got it. Our biggest shelves for chemicals are wooden shelves with 2 side by side opening doors (with glass fronts). They are about 7 foot tall (I think), and about 3 foot wide (maybe a little bigger). 5 shelves per unit - the middle shelf is fixed in place.

Over the years the cabinets began to bow out - meaning that the space between the wood insert shelves and the cabinet was increasing. Eventually this led to a fail, and one of our shelves collapsed. Fortunately, it didn?t go far as the chemicals below were tall (in fact, it was hard to tell that it fell - but I did notice). Right away I looked at all of our units, and lo and behold, many of them were starting to do the same thing.

I just had our facilities people design wood cleats to put under the shelves as additional support. We can no longer adjust the shelves, but frankly in 12 years I had not moved one, so I didn?t care. Now everything is good, and secure.

So, on routine chemical checks you should also check your shelves (and their integrity). Who knew ;)

I?m not going to talk about the corrosive cabinet that is now rusted out due to HCl storage (metal blue cabinet). It did not fail - I moved the HCl out before that could happen, but it is very rusty. And in less than 10 years.

Happy Thanksgiving all. Take care

Dave

On Nov 25, 2014, at 8:05 AM, Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety wrote:

> The topic of shelf stability in flammable storage cabinets came up on another lab safety e-mail list recently and a colleague requested information about other incidents related to this issue (see specific examples below). I thought that DCHAS members may wish to contribute to the list of incidents or, at a minimum, be reminded of the concern.
>
> - Ralph
>
> From: Hans Nielsen [mailto:hansn**At_Symbol_Here**hawaii.edu]
> Sent: Friday, November 21, 2014 3:58 PM
> Subject: [CSHEMA_LABSAFETY] Flammable Storage Cabinet Issues: Shelving Clips
>
> Hi All,
>
> This subject came up in our Lab Safety CoP conference call the other day. I am consolidating info sent from Mark Bannister at Carnegie Melon and Courtney Stanion at Duke.
>
> Anyone else had issues with these clips?
>
> Mahalo!
> Hans
>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>
> http://www.safety.duke.edu/OHS/Documents/hafc.pdf
>
> http://www.ehs.washington.edu/news/arc/2013-v11/2013-v11art3.shtm
>
> http://www.cmu.edu/ehs/newsletters/lab-safety/FlammableStorageCabinetProblems.html

Previous post   |  Top of Page   |   Next post



The content of this page reflects the personal opinion(s) of the author(s) only, not the American Chemical Society, ILPI, Safety Emporium, or any other party. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. Unauthorized reproduction of these materials is prohibited. Send questions/comments about the archive to secretary@dchas.org.
The maintenance and hosting of the DCHAS-L archive is provided through the generous support of Safety Emporium.