1. Clearly mark bottles, boxes, and storage containers as to their contents, hazards, and date received and opened.

2. Use marked, unbreakable containers whenever possible. Do not use food product containers. This prevents accidental ingestion of chemicals that do not have warning odors.

3. Keep all original or unbreakable containers tightly closed except when using them in order to prevent escape of dust or vapors.

4. Keep a current inventory of all materials on hand, their locations and date of purchase in order to dispose of materials with limited shelf life. Some chemicals even become explosive with age. Ideally, store materials in amounts that will be used within two months.

5. Purchase flammable or combustible materials in small quantities. Although larger containers might be cheaper, large quantities of these materials can be a serious fire hazard.

6. Post locations of flammable or highly toxic materials.

7. Apply good housekeeping. Have cleaning supplies for handling of spills on hand. If respiratory protection , gloves, or other personal protective equipment are needed, have these in the studios at all times.

8. If chemical corrosives or chemicals are stored, be prepared with an eye was station or emergency shower.

9. Have fire protection or extinguishers available which are approved for fires caused by the type of chemical stored.

10. Never store any material which you are not prepared to control or clean up if it spills.

11. Make safe storage and disposal an ongoing part of your work, with seasonal cleanings and reevaluations.

12. Organize storage wisely. Do not store large containers on high shelves. Never store hazardous chemicals directly on the floor or above shoulder height.

13. Store flammable or combustible solvents in fire safety cans. For dispensing small amounts of solvents, store the solvents in spring loaded dispensers.

14. Store chemicals that are highly toxic if ingested (for example, mercuric chloride and sodium cyanide) in a locked cabinet. Store flammable and combustible materials such as acetone, petroleum distillates, turpentine, and other solvents in specially designed OSHA-approved fireproof cabinets. Keep the cabinets closed; vent if required by local regulations. Explosion-proof refrigerators also decrease the risk of fire or explosion.

15. Store reactive chemicals separately and separate materials that may react if inadvertently mixed. For example, bleach mixed with acid or ammonia may create highly toxic potentially lethal gasses.

16. Do not dispense or mix chemicals in or near the storage area.

17. Ventilate the storage room. Keep it cool and keep chemicals out of direct sunlight.

18. Know your local regulations. Some areas limit the amount of hazardous materials, especially flammable solvents, that may be stored.