How to handle corrosive materials in a vehicle workshop

By Pavan Jheeta
Man checking checklist for handling corrosive materials in a commercial vehicle workshop

When we talk about workshop safety, it’s easy to focus on the obvious risks:

Heavy-duty equipment used on heavy-duty vehicles — and all the forces and weights involved.

But there are plenty of hazards that aren’t so obvious. And the potential for harm can be just as high.

Here’s what you need to know about handling corrosive materials in a vehicle workshop — and the steps you can take to keep your teams safe:

 

What is corrosive material?

Corrosive materials are highly reactive substances that damage and destroy other materials through chemical action — damaging things like metals, organic substances, or human tissue.

Most people think of acid when they think of corrosion. But a corrosive material can also be an alkali (such as caustic soda) or an oxidiser (such as bleach).

So what should you be looking out for?

Here are some examples of corrosive substances in a vehicle workshop:

  • Vehicle battery acid.
  • Cleaners and solvents.
  • Corrosion inhibitors in cooling systems.
  • Oils, lubricants, and waste engine oil.

These are just a few of the most common corrosive chemicals. And in a busy workshop with a wide range of services, your teams could be using them in almost every area they work in.

So what can you do to keep your staff safe — and reduce the risk of harm?

 

1. Safe storage

The first step in handling corrosive materials in a workshop is what happens when you’re not handling them.

The right storage (and delivery methods) can protect your teams from leaks and spills — and reduce the chances of using the wrong substance for the job.

That means you need to think about:

  • Using the right containers (made from materials that won’t react with the corrosive substance)
  • Choosing a safe storage location (where foot traffic and vehicle traffic is low)
  • Choosing a safe delivery method (like our Hose Reels for Oil or for hydraulic fluid).

It’s easy for your teams to stay alert when they’re actually using a hazardous substance. But when those substances are in storage, no one’s paying attention — so they need to be secure and safe when they’re out of sight.

 

2. PPE

Corrosive materials can cause severe damaging effects to your workers and their health — either through inhalation, ingestion, or contact with the skin and eyes.

So if anyone in your team needs to handle corrosive substances, you need to make sure they’ve got the right PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for the job.

That usually means supplying things like:

  • Protective clothing
  • Eye protection (glasses or goggles)
  • Protective gloves (often at elbow-length)
  • Respirators and masks.

But it’s not enough to just supply them:

You need to be sure that your teams are actively using them.

PPE should be readily available and stored close to the jobs and chemicals that need them — with clear signage that tells people exactly what they need to wear.

 

3. Manual handling tools

PPE is important — but it’s only one layer of defence.

The safest way to handle corrosive chemicals is to not directly handle them at all.

That’s where manual handling tools can help — creating extra distance between your workers and hazardous substances, and giving them control over materials without any direct contact.

Our Totalkare Battery Extractor, for example, lets a single operator remove heavy-duty vehicle batteries from some of the biggest commercial vehicles around — securely taking the weight of the battery without direct contact.

And the result?

No dropped batteries, and no spilled battery acid — which means minimal risk to your workers of an contact with corrosive materials.

 

4. Washing stations

In the worst-case scenario — where a corrosive materials comes into contact with a team member — a fast reaction can be the difference between severe or minimal damage.

Most corrosive substances do damage over time. The longer it stays on your body, the more harm it can do.

So the safest workshops will have some kind of washing station readily available — so your teams can remove the substance as soon as they can.

For most workshops, that means keeping handwash and eyewash basins close to where the substances are stored, and close to the jobs that need them.

 

5. Dealing with spillages

No workshop is ever completely risk-free — no matter how many precautions you take.

Spillages can happen. And when you’re dealing with corrosive substances, the way your teams react can make a huge difference to their safety.

You need to have strict procedures (and the right training) in your workshop to make sure any leaks or spillages are reported and safely cleaned up immediately.

It’s not just a case of preventing slips and falls, or keeping corrosive materials away from eyes and skin.

Some volatiles substances produce harmful vapours and fumes when they’re left in the open — which means your entire workplace could be at risk.

That’s why smart workshops take every precaution to prevent spills and leaks — both when delivering corrosive substances, and when draining them.

With dedicated equipment to safely remove chemicals (like our Evacuation Kits and Fluid Drainers), your teams can stay in control of the substances they use — and reduce the risk of harm to your entire workforce.

 

Working with hazardous chemicals in your workshop?

No matter what chemicals you work with, the safety of your teams should a top priority.

So if your services involves handling corrosive substances or dangerous materials  in a workshop, you owe it to your teams to give them the kit they need to stay safe while they work.

Check out our full range of manual handling tools and fluid management tools in our online shop — or talk to a workshop expert to find the best equipment to reduce your risks.