The storage system below is an example of one method for storing chemicals by compatibility. Many guides to separation and storage are available through online searching. No single method is required to be used at the University of Kentucky, however, it is of primary importance to know the properties of all chemicals utilized in the lab. Laboratory staff must familiarize themselves with the Global Harmonization System for categorizing chemicals and the pictograms used. Whichever storage system the laboratory chooses to use for their chemical storage, the following chemical groups are kept separate by using secondary containment, cabinets, or distance:
Fig. 5.1 Prudent Practices in the Laboratory, Adapted from Stanford University's ChemTracker Storage System. Used with permission from Lawrence M. Gibbs, Stanford University.
Table 5.1 Because chemicals in storage are contained, their separation by compatibility groups can be simplified. The color-coded system described here allows for ease of storage.
Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: Handling and Management of Chemical Hazards: Updated Version. National Research Council (US) Committee on Prudent Practices in the Laboratory. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2011. SOURCE: Adapted from Stanford University's Chem Tracker Storage System. Used with permission from Lawrence M. Gibbs, Stanford University.