The Hazards of Shipping Containers | WorkSafeBC

Shipping containers can explode with deadly force if they contain common flammable substances that vaporize and combine with a source of heat or ignition. This video explains the key hazards people face when using a shipping container outside of the shipping industry for storage or as a workspace.

Shipping containers are designed to be watertight, which means any vapours cannot dissipate, becoming trapped within the container. Since the shipping container has the ability to withstand high levels of internal pressure, the risk of explosion increases. In addition, used shipping containers may contain hazardous substances such as toxic contaminants, pesticides and other chemicals that may have soaked into the wooden floorboards before you obtained the container.

If you’re considering purchasing a used shipping container, be aware of the risks involved.

Visit our website for more information on shipping containers in British Columbia: https://www.worksafebc.com/en/resourc...

Timestamps:
0:18 Secondary use of shipping containers
0:38 Safety issues with shipping containers
1:30 Enderby incident: shipping container with gasoline inside next to a burning building
2:07 Saanich incident: shipping container with propane bbq & ignition source
2:38 Combination of events that can cause a shipping container to explode

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