Read Hazard -> Read Bin -> Check Matrix -> Call Safe or Not -> Suggest Bin

Hazardous Storage Compatibility Checker

This agent checks a material's hazard class against everything already stored in the chosen bin or zone at the moment of put-away, using your segregation matrix and licensed quantity limits. It returns a safe or unsafe call with the reason and, when the placement is unsafe, an alternative bin. It reads stored contents only; it never changes tank levels or stock availability.

The Problem

The oxidiser went into the bin next to the flammables. Nobody flagged it.

A forklift driver put away a drum of oxidiser into the nearest open bin at the end of a shift. The bin already held a flammable solvent, a pairing the segregation matrix forbids. The matrix exists, but it lives on a laminated sheet on the office wall, not at the point of put-away. The clash sits there until an audit or an incident finds it.

What Changes

A compatibility check at the exact moment of put-away

When a put-away is proposed, the agent reads the material's hazard class, looks at what is already in that bin or zone, and checks the pairing against your segregation matrix and the licensed quantity limit. It returns a safe or unsafe call with a plain reason, and when unsafe it suggests an alternative bin that clears the rules. The driver or supervisor makes the final placement.

Humans stay in control: the agent calls a placement safe or unsafe and suggests an alternative bin, but your warehouse supervisor confirms where the material actually goes.

HOW THE AGENT WORKS

TRIGGERLLMAPIDECISIONACTIONWAIT
TRIGGERPut-away proposedFires when a material is about to be placed in a bin or zone.
APIRead material hazard classPulls the hazard class and any storage constraints from the SDS source.
APIRead bin contentsReads what is currently stored in the target bin or zone.
LLMCheck against segregation matrixCompares the material to its neighbours and the licensed quantity limit.
DECISIONSafe placement?
LLMExplain and suggest binWrites the reason for an unsafe call and names an alternative bin that clears the rules.
ACTIONReturn placement callSends the safe or unsafe verdict to the driver or supervisor.
The agent does not move stock or confirm put-aways. Your warehouse supervisor does. The agent removes the memory work of knowing which hazard classes cannot share a bin.

HOW TO BUILD IT

Three levels of depth. Pick the one that matches where you are.

For the ops person who needs to understand what's involved and brief their team.

Warehouse and SDS DataBin contents, hazard classes, segregation matrix
The AgentWorkflow engine + LLM
Warehouse FloorSafe or unsafe call and alternative bin

WHAT YOUR TEAM PROVIDES ONCE

  • Bin contents export - a current map of what sits in each bin or zone
  • Safety data sheet class data - hazard class per material
  • Segregation matrix - your rules for which hazard classes cannot share a location
  • Licensed quantity limits - the maximum allowed per zone under your storage licence
  • Notification channel - where the placement call reaches the floor
What happens day-to-day: as put-aways are proposed, the agent checks each one against its bin neighbours and the quantity limit, then returns safe or unsafe with a reason. When it says unsafe it names a bin that works, so the driver is not left guessing.

For the IT person or technical lead who needs to scope the integration.

INQUIRY SOURCES

Warehouse bin or zone contents export with material and quantity per location
Safety data sheet class data giving hazard class per material
Segregation matrix and licensed quantity limits per zone

WORKFLOW ENGINE (N8N)

Put-away proposed event
Read material hazard class
Read target bin contents
Check segregation and quantity
Route safe or unsafe
Explain and suggest alternative bin
Return call to floor

CONNECTS TO

Warehouse management (SAP EWM / Manhattan / Blue Yonder)Read: bin contents, quantities, locations. Write: none
Dangerous-goods data (SAP EHS / Sphera / 3E)Read: hazard class per material. Write: none
Segregation matrix (spreadsheet / custom master)Read: incompatible class pairs, quantity limits. Write: none
Notification (Slack / Microsoft Teams / handheld scanner app)Read: none. Write: safe or unsafe call and alternative bin
WITHOUT PMS API

Without API access, the warehouse shares a periodic bin export and the driver queries the agent with a material and a target bin. The call is only as current as the last export, so recent moves may not show.

WITH PMS API

With API access to the warehouse system, the agent reads live bin contents at the moment of put-away and returns its call to the handheld before the driver confirms. The check happens in the flow of work, not after it. Best experience.

For the person who wants to build this agent step by step. Each node below maps to an n8n workflow node.

TRIGGERNode 1
Webhook Trigger - catches put-away proposals
Expose a webhook the WMS or scanner app calls with material and target bin.
Output: A payload with material code and bin id.
APINode 2
HTTP Request - get hazard class
GET the SDS source by material code for hazard class and storage notes.
Output: Hazard class for the material.
APINode 3
HTTP Request - get bin contents
GET the current contents and quantities of the target bin or zone.
Output: A list of materials and quantities in the bin.
LLMNode 4
LLM - check compatibility
Send the material hazard class, the bin contents, the segregation matrix, and the quantity limit.
Output: A safe or unsafe verdict with a reason.
You check chemical storage compatibility at put-away. The material has hazard class {hazard_class}. The target bin already holds {bin_contents}. Use the segregation matrix {matrix} and the zone quantity limit {limit}. Decide whether placing the material here is safe. If unsafe, give the reason. Respond ONLY with valid JSON. No explanation.
INPUT
{"hazard_class":"5.1","bin_contents":[{"material":"solvent X","hazard_class":"3","qty_kg":200}],"matrix":[{"a":"5.1","b":"3","allowed":false}],"limit":1000}
OUTPUT
{"verdict":"unsafe","reason":"Class 5.1 oxidiser cannot share a bin with class 3 flammable liquid under the segregation matrix."}
DECISIONNode 5
IF - branch on verdict
Route unsafe verdicts to the suggestion step; return safe verdicts directly.
Output: Two paths, safe and unsafe.
ACTIONNode 6
Send - return the call
Format the verdict and alternative bin and send to the scanner or channel.
Output: A delivered placement call.
MVP vs Advanced — Where To Start
MVP — START HERE
  • Load one zone's segregation rules and current bin contents.
  • Map each stored material to its hazard class.
  • Let a driver query one material against one bin by hand.
  • Return safe or unsafe with a one-line reason.
  • Post the call to the channel the floor already uses.
  • Test a known forbidden pairing to confirm the unsafe call.
ADVANCED — ADD LATER
  • Trigger automatically on every put-away proposal from the WMS.
  • Return the call to the handheld scanner before the driver confirms.
  • Add the alternative-bin suggestion that clears the rules.
  • =+ Add licensed quantity tracking so a zone nearing its limit warns early.
  • Log every unsafe call for the compliance record.
  • =+ Add a re-check that scans existing bins overnight and flags pairings that drifted out of rule.

Full Video Walkthrough Coming Soon

Watch the agent catch an incompatible pairing at put-away and suggest a safe bin.

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Everything on this page is free to learn.

When you're ready to build — do it yourself or bring us in.

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Frequently asked questions

Hazardous Storage Compatibility Checker is an AI agent that checks a material against its bin neighbours before put-away confirms.
The oxidiser went into the bin next to the flammables. Nobody flagged it. The Hazardous Storage Compatibility Checker addresses this: checks a material against its bin neighbours before put-away confirms.
No. Your team stays in control. The agent does not move stock or confirm put-aways. Your warehouse supervisor does. The agent removes the memory work of knowing which hazard classes cannot share a bin.