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.
Common Safety Hazards Associated with Industrial Drum Handling Include:
- Heavy drums that can’t be handled 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; and
- Hazardous materials that can leak out of improperly sealed drums.
The size and shape of industrial drums makes the lightest or even empty drums unwieldy to handle manually.
Moving a high number of industrial drums, even when done safely, can lead to over exertion and the musculoskeletal strain associated with manual handling.
KEEP SAFETY IN MIND…IT WILL SAVE YOUR BEHIND!
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