Handling and Storing Drums and Containers
Handling: Improper handling of drums and barrels can result in severe injuries. These include painful back sprains, smashed toes and fingers, or exposure to hazardous chemicals if the contents are leaking.
Proper storage of drums is necessary to prevent damage and detect leakage.
Proper work practices can minimize your risk of injury, so consider the following best practices:
- Prior to handling the drum, read the label on the drum and look for symbols, words or other marks which indicate if its contents are hazardous, corrosive, toxic or flammable. If the drum isn't labeled, consider the contents hazardous until they are positively identified.
- Look around the drum to see if it is leaking. Find and review the appropriate SDS to see what the drum contains.
- Before moving the drum or barrel, replace missing bungs and/or lids and secure as necessary.
- Depending upon the contents of the drum, estimate its weight. Determine whether you can move it yourself or if you need assistance. A 55-gallon drum can weigh 400-800 pounds.
- If you decide to move it yourself, use a forklift if one is available, a hand truck or a drum cart that is designed specifically for drum handling.
- If the drum is on its side, upend a barrel or drum using a drum lifter bar. If one is not available, crouch in front of the drum, knees apart and firmly grasp the chime on each side. Keep your back straight and use your leg muscles to lift. Balance the drum on the lower chime, shift your hands to the far edge, and ease the drum into the upended position.
- Use PPE to protect your hands, feet, back and face during this work.
- Most importantly, use material handling equipment whenever possible, and get help when you need it!
Storage: Fifty-five-gallon drums or other similar containers should be stored in rows that are no more than two (2) 55-gallon drums high and two 55-gallon drums wide. This recommendation takes into consideration the following:
- Inspections not only detect spills but also detect container deterioration.
- It is difficult to inspect drums or containers when ladders are required when drums are more than two high.
- Rows should be no more than two drums wide. Drums inside the rows are not visible. This would require containers to be moved to perform adequate inspection.
- Variability in container strength and condition make it unwise to stack containers more than two high. This puts unnecessary strain on the supporting containers.
- Variability in container dimensions can make stacking more than two high risky because of the uncertain support given by the different container sizes.
- Variability in the number of drums on each pallet may also lead to instability. It is not uncommon to find only three drums on a pallet.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
4-9. Fifty-five-gallon drums should be stored in rows that are no more than _____.
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