Safety Tip of the Week – 55 Gallon Drum Safety

55 Gallon Drum Safety

With the average 55-gallon drum weighing between 400-600 lbs., manually transporting, decanting, or otherwise handling drums is not only physically demanding, but a potentially dangerous task for any worker.

Risk Factors

At least four serious injuries can occur if a 55 Gallon Drum is not handled safely:

  • Fractures;

  • Lacerations;

  • Hernias; and

  • Back strain.

By taking a few precautions before you attempt to move a drum, you can help prevent these serious and painful injuries.

  • Some of the common safety hazards associated with industrial drum handling include:

  • Heavy drums that can’t be handled manually;

  • The size and shape of industrial drums makes even the lightest or even empty drums unwieldy to handle manually;

  • Confined spaces in which workers are unable to use forklifts or other material handling equipment;

  • Storage of drums in restricted spaces where worker range of motion is severely restricted;

  • Unsafe floor conditions in which slipperiness, clutter, or uneven surfaces can cause trips or falls;

  • Half-filled drums that have the potential to shift their weight while in transport;

  • Hazardous materials that can leak out of improperly sealed drums; and

  • High volumes of industrial drums, even when done safely, can lead to overexertion and musculoskeletal strain associated with manual handling.

    Keep safety in mind…It will save your behind!  

 

Download flyer: STOTW_340_55GallonDrumSafety.pdf (324.42 kb)

Download Spanish Flyer: STOTW_340_55GallonDrumSafety_esp.pdf (324.24 kb)

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