Cleaning fluids, adhesives, thinners, aerosols, paints, inks – these are the common flammable substances, frequently kept in most workplaces, which need to be stored in fire resistant cabinets. There may be other flammable substances specific to your business.

Don’t fall down on your OH&S responsibilities – or risk jeopardizing your insurance!


The main risks from the keeping and storage of hazardous substances include and not exclusive to:
o Personal injury or ill-health caused by exposure to escaping substances;
o Fire and explosion involving flammable or unstable substances in the containers;
o Fire and explosion involving flammable or unstable substances as escaping liquid, gas or vapour.

These risks may arise from either the substance leaking, spilling or seeping from its container which creates a potential fire hazard waiting for a simple form of ignition.
Alternatively, a small fire caused by some other means, may be fuelled out of control very quickly by inappropriately stored flammable substances.

However, a well-designed and properly used storage facility, and the segregation and separation of incompatible hazardous substances, should therefore present a very low risk.


So the simple answer is to keep these substances in specifically designed and labelled cabinets.

Suitable fire cabinets will have internal arrangements to contain any leaked substances. They should also have flame protected seals around openings and appropriate labelling.

To see a range of specially designed fire resistant cabinets for the storage of flammable substances, click here

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