How should lubricants be stored?

How lubricants are stored is very important – it's what determines their levels of cleanliness and their initial performance.  In storage, lubricants should be:
– Protected: sheltered, in a closed and ventilated area; failing that, the packaging should at least be covered and protected from the elements. In order to avoid accidental pollution, oil drums should be stored horizontally, bungs should be on their sides. Air breathers / dryers fitted to the drums and tanks protect the oil against humidity more effectively.
– Environmentally friendly. Packaging should be placed on holding tanks the volumes of which have been determined in compliance with current local regulations. 
– Properly identified: the names of the products stored should be clearly visible in order to prevent handling errors. Information about the dates on which delivery was taken of the lubricants and the application of the FIFO (First in First out) rule will ensure that the lubricants in storage do not expire. Special oils (biodegradable, food-grade oils, metalworking oils, etc.) must be stored in special, clearly identified areas.  
– Efficient: the types of packaging and the quantities of products stored should be selected on the basis of usage and the available logistics resources
– Functional: there should be enough equipment for distributing the lubricants (jugs and grease pumps) such that products are not mixed. There should be filtration systems to remove any pollution from the oil before top-ups or fills.