No matter what kind of business you own, you handle waste. For example, an insurance office handles paper waste by shredding old policies. A retail store handles textile waste after receiving a damaged shipment. Construction companies handle waste that they excavate from worksites. Your business can manage whatever waste you produce in many ways. However, you must handle potentially hazardous and ignitable waste in specific ways to keep your business and the public safe. Keep reading to learn some helpful tips for managing ignitable waste.
Prioritize Safe Storage
Unlike nonhazardous waste, hazardous waste can’t just sit in a garbage can or dumpster until a waste management company hauls it away. You must store hazardous waste until qualified individuals can properly dispose of it. There are rules for proper waste storage, especially if the waste is ignitable. You’ll need to seal the waste into containers designed to prevent ignition and other hazards, such as leaks. Those containers will need a safe storage facility, ideally somewhere only accessible to a few authorized people. The more people going into and out of a hazardous storage facility, the greater the risk of something going wrong.
Prepare Your Employees
You’ll hire more employees as your business changes and grows. While this is good news for your business, it’s bad news for employees if they lack the proper training to handle the ignitable waste you deal with. Take the time to properly train new employees as soon as they start so they know exactly what you do, how to address hazards, and what personal protective equipment to wear.
An important part of employee training is making sure everyone understands your emergency response plan. All businesses should have a plan for dealing with emergencies, such as natural disasters. Since your business handles hazardous waste, everyone should know what to do if an emergency—like a leak—arises from that waste. Regularly review your plan with all employees, and spend extra time with new hires so they understand what to do.
Hire a Waste Management Company
Sometimes, the best way to manage waste is to hire someone else to manage it for you. This is especially true with hazardous waste, as there are so many rules and regulations involved. A waste management company that’s aware of the four characteristics of hazardous waste, including ignitability, can dispose of this waste easier and more efficiently than you can on your own. Consider hiring a company in your area to help you with your waste so you can focus on more important aspects of your business.
Managing ignitable waste isn’t easy, but your business can thrive if you follow these helpful tips. Prioritizing safe storage, employee safety, and reliable business practices like hiring a waste management company will facilitate the waste disposal process so your business can focus on better things than waste.