Safe Storage of Dangerous Goods in Professional Laundries: Regulations and Alternatives

Does your professional or industrial laundry handle dangerous products? Learn how to avoid risk and simplify compliance.

Industrial and professional laundries are routinely required to store hazardous chemicals such as harsh bleaches, concentrated peroxides, bleaches (sodium hypochlorite), acids, and potent alkalis. However, the storage of these hazardous substances poses significant challenges related to strict European and Spanish regulations, high occupational risks and a considerable environmental impact.

European and Spanish Regulations for the Storage of Dangerous Products

Industrial laundries that store hazardous chemicals are required to comply with specific regulations:

• European REACH Regulation (EC No. 1907/2006): requires the registration and evaluation of chemicals to protect human and environmental health.

• CLP Regulation (EC No. 1272/2008): Establishes strict criteria for the classification, labelling and packaging of hazardous substances to ensure safety in daily handling.

• Seveso III Directive (2012/18/EU): requires the implementation of specific plans to prevent serious accidents arising from the mass storage of hazardous substances.

• Royal Decree 656/2017 (Spain): clearly defines the technical conditions and safety requirements in facilities dedicated to the storage of hazardous chemicals (APQ).

• Royal Decree 833/1988 (Spain): regulates the safe and proper management of hazardous waste generated by the storage of these products.

Challenges in Storing Hazardous Substances in Laundries

Managing chemicals classified as hazardous involves numerous practical challenges:

• Specialized infrastructure: specific ventilation systems, spill containment areas, appropriate signage and labelling.

• Continuous training of staff: Regular training on safe handling and emergency management is a must.

• Exhaustive document control: Maintain up-to-date safety data sheets (SDS), movement records and detailed emergency plans.

• Frequent inspections: Authorities conduct regular audits to ensure compliance, which involves additional operational costs and potential penalties for non-compliance.

Operational and Economic Impacts

Storing hazardous products significantly increases operating costs:

• Increased investment in adapted infrastructure and maintenance.

• High costs of specialized training and personal protective equipment.

• Increase in insurance premiums due to potential risks.

• Possible administrative and economic sanctions derived from regulatory non-compliance.

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Active Oxygen Plus It is a professional bleach no ADR rating, which maintains high-level performance while simplifying your operation:

📌 What makes it unique?

• 92% natural ingredients

• Stable oxygenated bleaches, without chlorine or aggressive substances

• Compatible with temperatures from 40ºC to 70ºC

• Suitable for linen in hospitality, healthcare, communities and industrial laundry

• Dermatologically tested, without allergens or artificial perfumes

• Made in Spain Under the "zero kilometer" philosophy

• ISO 16128 Certified and 100% vegan

What does it mean that it is NOT ADR?

• You can Store it without special restrictions
• You don't need special vehicles for transport
• No dangerous goods labelling required
• Reduce legal compliance costs
• You increase security for your team

Legal and Administrative Obligations to Store Products with ADR:

• Specific authorisations: the warehouse must be adapted and approved according to the specific ADR regulations.

• Labelling and special signage: obligation to clearly identify stored dangerous products with specific signage (hazard pictograms and CLP labelling).

• Comprehensive Logs: maintain up-to-date documentation on the quantities, characteristics and movements of stored ADR products.

• Mandatory periodic inspections by competent authorities.

🚚 Requirements for Transportation:

• Specific training of staff (mandatory ADR training for drivers and handlers).

• Hiring of an ADR Security Advisor when certain volumes or limit quantities established by law are exceeded.

• Use of Authorized Vehicles for transport, correctly labelled and equipped according to ADR standards.

• Specific documentation: ADR consignment notes, written instructions for emergencies, and prevention plans.

🪪 Storage Security:

• Warehouse Zoning: strict chemical separation and compatibility, avoiding dangerous reactions between different stored products.

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) mandatory and specific according to the risks of the product.

• Installation of Emergency showers and eyewashes.

• Comprehensive control of the Temperature, humidity and ventilation to avoid dangerous chemical degradation.

• Adequate spill containment systems and mandatory emergency plan.

⚠️ Occupational Risks:

• Increased likelihood of Workplace accidents (corrosions, chemical burns, poisoning).

• Need to implement Additional prevention measures and specific protocols for action in the event of chemical emergencies.

💰 Economic Implications:

• Increased operating costs due to regulatory compliance (training, inspections, ADR Advisor, special equipment, etc.).

• Increase in insurance premiums for the storage and handling of hazardous substances.

• Additional costs in Maintenance of facilities, due to the aggressive or corrosive nature of some dangerous products.

🌱 Environmental Responsibility:

• Obligation to implement Specific measures to avoid environmental risks due to accidental spills or pollution.

• Possible Administrative and economic sanctions in the event of non-compliance or environmental incidents.

Obtaining certificates:

1. 📑ISO 9001 Certificate (Quality)

• More demanding process control:
  ADR product management involves specific and rigorous procedures. This significantly increases the operational complexity when documenting processes according to ISO 9001.

• High risk in audits:
  Any errors in the management, labelling or storage of hazardous substances could lead to critical non-conformities during external audits, putting certification at risk.

2. 🌿 ISO 14001 Certificate (Environmental Management)

• Potentially high environmental impact:
  Storing ADR products requires additional measures to be implemented to avoid environmental incidents (spills, leaks or accidental contamination).

• Greater difficulty in demonstrating sustainability:
  The presence of hazardous products complicates the achievement of environmental objectives required by ISO 14001, such as hazardous waste reduction, emission control and pollution prevention.

3. ⚠️ ISO 45001 Certificate (Occupational Health and Safety)

• Increased occupational risk:
  ADR products significantly increase the risk of workplace accidents, forcing stricter measures to protect employees.

• Greater complexity in preventive management:
  The storage and handling of products classified as ADR requires additional documentation, specific training, more frequent risk assessments, and thorough internal and external audits.

🧑🏻‍💼🏢 Consequences for your company:

• Higher economic cost in preparation, audits, and maintenance of ISO certifications due to the additional complexity involved in ADR products.

• High risk of non-compliance, penalties or loss of ISO certifications for any irregularity in handling or storage.

• Less commercial competitiveness, as large customers and public tenders increasingly value ISO certificates and require additional guarantees in safety and sustainability.

📖i️ How to use professionally

Recommended dosage: 8 to 15 g per kg of dry laundry, depending on the level of soiling.
It is applied in the washing or bleaching phase, Always with neutral detergent to enhance its effectiveness.
Important: Avoid initial use with blood stains, as the peroxide could fix them.

📢 Who uses it already?

• Professional and industrial laundries

• Clinics, hospitals and nursing homes

• Hotels, hostels and tourist flats

• Facility management companies and communities

The LA·PRO Cleaning Active Oxygen Plus, endorsed by Land of Nature, is the best choice for any laundromat you want removing stubborn stains without compromising safety, health or the environment.

📢 Conclusion: your professional laundry, free of complications

Switch to Active Oxygen Plus It's more than just changing products:
✅ Is Optimize your processes, reduce your risks and demonstrate your commitment to Sustainability and Occupational Safety.

If you're tired of dealing with ADR regulations, limited warehouses, or unnecessary risks...
Make the switch today. Your laundromat will thank you.

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