Safety Cabinet Inspection Checklist
If your workplace stores hazardous chemicals, regularly inspecting your safety cabinets is essential for maintaining a safe and compliant storage environment. Over time, cabinets can become damaged, contaminated or incorrectly organised, potentially reducing their ability to safely contain hazardous substances.
A routine inspection helps identify issues such as damaged shelves, leaking containers, blocked ventilation openings, deteriorating seals and incorrect chemical storage before they become more serious problems.
Understanding what to check during a safety cabinet inspection can help businesses maintain their cabinets in good working condition and ensure hazardous substances remain safely stored.
Why Inspect Your Safety Cabinet?
Safety cabinets are designed to provide a dedicated storage area for hazardous substances and help minimise the risks associated with chemical storage.
Titan Safety safety cabinets are available for a range of hazardous substances, including flammable liquids, corrosive substances and toxic chemicals.
Regular inspections can help you:
- Identify damage or deterioration
- Check that shelves and sumps remain in good condition
- Ensure chemical containers are properly stored
- Identify leaks or spills
- Confirm cabinet doors and locks are functioning correctly
- Ensure required signage remains visible
- Keep hazardous substances organised
- Reduce the risk of chemical exposure and spills
The frequency of inspections should be determined by your workplace risk assessment, the chemicals being stored and how frequently the cabinet is accessed.
Safety Cabinet Inspection Checklist
A safety cabinet inspection should cover the condition of the cabinet itself, the chemicals being stored and the surrounding area.
The following checklist can be used as a general guide for routine workplace inspections.
1. Check the Cabinet Condition
Start by inspecting the overall condition of the cabinet.
Look for:
- Dents, cracks or other physical damage
- Corrosion or rust
- Damaged paint or protective coatings
- Loose components
- Signs of chemical contamination
- Damage to hinges, handles or door mechanisms
A damaged cabinet may not provide the same level of protection as intended and should be assessed before continuing to use it.
2. Inspect the Doors
Safety cabinet doors should open and close correctly without obstruction.
Check that:
- Doors open and close smoothly
- Self-closing mechanisms operate correctly where fitted
- Hinges are secure
- Door seals are intact
- Handles are not damaged
- Locks and latches function correctly
For cabinets designed with self-closing doors, confirm the doors close fully without requiring manual assistance.
3. Check Shelving
Shelves should be inspected to ensure they remain secure and capable of supporting the stored containers.
Look for:
- Damaged shelves
- Loose shelf brackets
- Corrosion
- Excessive loading
- Uneven positioning
- Signs of chemical damage
Shelves should also be arranged so that containers can be accessed safely without unnecessary movement or handling.
4. Inspect the Spill Containment Sump
Many hazardous chemical storage cabinets incorporate an integrated sump designed to contain accidental leaks and spills.
Check that:
- The sump is free from chemical residue
- There are no cracks or holes
- The sump has not become excessively contaminated
- Stored containers are not sitting in accumulated liquid
- The containment area remains unobstructed
Any chemical spill should be cleaned up using appropriate procedures and suitable absorbent materials.
5. Check Chemical Containers
Inspect the containers stored inside the cabinet as part of the overall inspection.
Look for:
- Leaking or damaged containers
- Cracked bottles
- Corroded containers
- Missing or damaged labels
- Loose caps or lids
- Containers showing signs of deterioration
Damaged or leaking containers should be dealt with immediately in accordance with your workplace chemical management procedures.
6. Check Chemical Compatibility
Not all hazardous chemicals can safely be stored together.
During an inspection, confirm that chemicals are being stored in the appropriate cabinet for their hazard classification.
For example:
- Class 3 flammable liquids should be stored in a suitable flammable liquids cabinet.
- Corrosive substances should be stored in an appropriate corrosive substances cabinet.
- Toxic substances should be stored in a suitable toxic substances cabinet.
- Chemicals that are incompatible with one another should be appropriately segregated.
Always refer to the chemical's Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for specific storage and compatibility requirements.
7. Check Cabinet Capacity
Avoid overcrowding the cabinet with containers, equipment or other materials.
During an inspection, check that:
- Shelves are not overloaded
- Containers are stable
- Chemical containers are easy to access
- The cabinet is not being used for unrelated storage
- There is sufficient space to safely remove containers
Overcrowding can make chemical handling more difficult and increase the likelihood of spills or dropped containers.
8. Check Signage and Labels
Safety signage should remain clearly visible and legible.
Depending on the cabinet and substances being stored, check that required signage such as:
- Dangerous Goods labels
- Flammable substance warnings
- Corrosive substance warnings
- Toxic substance warnings
- No smoking or ignition source signage
has not been removed, damaged or obscured.
The cabinet should also be appropriately labelled for the hazardous substances it is designed to store.
9. Inspect Ventilation
Where the cabinet is designed with ventilation openings or ventilation connections, these should be checked during routine inspections.
Make sure:
- Ventilation openings are not blocked
- Ventilation components are undamaged
- Ducting or connections remain secure where applicable
- The cabinet has not been modified in a way that affects its intended operation
Do not modify a safety cabinet's ventilation system without first confirming that the modification is appropriate for the cabinet and substances being stored.
10. Check the Area Around the Cabinet
The inspection should also extend beyond the cabinet itself.
Check that:
- Access to the cabinet is unobstructed
- Emergency equipment remains accessible
- Ignition sources are appropriately controlled
- The cabinet is positioned in a suitable location
- Floors around the cabinet are clean and free from chemical spills
- The cabinet has not been moved or positioned in a way that creates additional hazards
Keeping the surrounding area clear also makes it easier for workers to access the cabinet safely during normal operations.
Safety Cabinet Inspection Checklist
Use the following checklist as a simple starting point for routine inspections:
| Inspection Item | Check |
|---|---|
| Cabinet body is free from significant damage | ☐ |
| No excessive rust or corrosion | ☐ |
| Doors open and close correctly | ☐ |
| Self-closing mechanism works where fitted | ☐ |
| Hinges, handles and locks are secure | ☐ |
| Shelves are secure and undamaged | ☐ |
| Spill containment sump is clean and intact | ☐ |
| No leaking or damaged containers | ☐ |
| Chemical labels are present and legible | ☐ |
| Chemicals are stored according to compatibility requirements | ☐ |
| Cabinet is not overcrowded | ☐ |
| Required safety signage is visible | ☐ |
| Ventilation openings are unobstructed | ☐ |
| Area surrounding cabinet is clear | ☐ |
| Inspection findings have been recorded | ☐ |
How Often Should Safety Cabinets Be Inspected?
There is no single inspection frequency that is appropriate for every workplace. Inspection schedules should consider the type and quantity of chemicals being stored, how frequently the cabinet is accessed and the risks associated with the substances.
Workplaces that frequently handle hazardous chemicals may benefit from more frequent visual inspections, while a more detailed documented inspection can be incorporated into the site's broader chemical storage and workplace safety procedures.
Your workplace risk assessment, relevant legislation, standards and Safety Data Sheets should be used to determine an appropriate inspection program.
Titan Safety's Safety Cabinet Solutions
Titan Safety offers a range of safety cabinets designed to provide dedicated storage for hazardous substances across industrial, commercial, laboratory, mining and workplace environments.
Our range includes solutions for flammable liquids, corrosive substances, toxic substances and lithium batteries, helping businesses select storage equipment appropriate for their specific chemical storage requirements.
Regular inspections, correct chemical segregation and suitable storage equipment all play an important role in maintaining a safe hazardous chemical storage area.