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.
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 making 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, leading to overexertion and musculoskeletal strain associated from manual handling.
KEEP SAFETY IN MIND…IT WILL SAVE YOUR BEHIND!!
Download flyer: STOTW_810_Safety with 55-Gallon Drums Download Spanish flyer: STOTW_810_Safety with 55-Gallon Drums_esp
