If you’ve ever visited a manufacturing plant, chemical storage facility, or even a construction site, you’ve probably seen stacks of sealed drums sitting in corner storage areas, waiting to be transported or emptied. As a sealed drum supplier who’s been in this industry for over a decade, I’ve seen firsthand how even a small misstep when handling these drums can lead to serious consequences—from chemical spills that harm workers to property damage, or even regulatory fines that put a business at risk. Too often, new team members or even veteran workers cut corners because they think “it’s just a drum,” and that’s where accidents start. That’s why today, I want to share the safety precautions I’ve learned over years of working with sealed drums, both as a supplier who sells these drums to businesses and as someone who’s walked job sites to help clients troubleshoot handling issues. Sealed Drum
First, let’s get clear on what a sealed drum actually is, because not all drums are the same. A sealed drum is a cylindrical container—usually made of steel, sometimes plastic or fiberboard—designed to hold liquid or solid materials, with a tight-fitting lid that prevents leaks, spills, or contamination. Many of the drums we supply are used for industrial chemicals, food-grade ingredients, lubricants, or even hazardous waste, which means they come with unique risks that casual storage or packaging containers don’t have. Handling them isn’t just about moving a heavy box; it’s about respecting the contents inside, even if you can’t see them.
One of the most basic but overlooked precautions is inspecting the drum before you even pick it up. I can’t tell you how many times a client has come to me saying a drum leaked during transport, only to find out they didn’t check for dents or damage before moving it. Dents along the side of a steel drum can crack the inner seal, especially if the drum was dropped or stacked too high in a truck. For plastic drums, small cracks might be hard to spot but can expand when exposed to temperature changes—like sitting in a hot warehouse in the summer, which makes the plastic expand and create a weak spot. Even rust on the bottom of a steel drum is a red flag; rust eats away at the metal over time, and a drum that looks solid on the outside might be thin enough to break under its own weight. My team always reminds our clients to do a quick visual check: run your hand along the sides and bottom for dents, rust, or cracks, and make sure the lid is secure—no loose bolts, no gaps between the lid and the drum’s rim. If you find any damage, don’t try to move it. Set it aside and contact the drum supplier or a hazardous materials professional, because attempting to move a damaged drum can cause a spill that’s hard to contain.
Next, when it comes to lifting and moving sealed drums, you can’t just grab the top rim and hoist it up. I’ve seen workers try to lift a 55-gallon drum (which can weigh over 400 pounds when full) by the edges, and that’s a surefire way to slip and drop it. The right tools aren’t just convenient—they’re critical for safety. Pallet jacks are non-negotiable for moving drums that are stored on pallets; they let you lift the drum off the ground without straining your back, and they keep the drum stable so it doesn’t roll off. For drums that aren’t on pallets, drum dollies with rubberized grips work well, especially for concrete or factory floors, because they prevent the drum from slipping. If you’re using a forklift to move drums, make sure you’re using a drum clamp attachment, not just the standard forks. The forks can puncture the bottom of the drum if you’re not positioning them correctly, and a drum clamp secures the sides so it stays balanced during transport. Another common mistake: rolling drums on their sides. I know it’s tempting, especially if you’re in a hurry, but rolling a sealed drum can damage the inner seal, especially for steel drums with a bung (the plug where you pour out contents). Rolling can loosen the bung, which means when you open the drum later, it might leak. We actually mark all our drums with a small sticker that says “Do Not Roll” for exactly that reason, but I’ve seen workers ignore it all the time. If you need to move a drum a short distance, lift it and carry it, or use a dolly—no rolling.
Storing sealed drums is just as important as moving them, and I’ve seen businesses store drums in ways that not only risk damage but also safety. First, never stack drums too high. For steel drums, the industry standard is that you can stack up to three drums on top of each other if they’re properly sealed and not damaged. But if you have plastic drums, you should only stack two at most, because plastic is less durable and can crack under the weight of a third drum. Another storage mistake: storing drums on uneven ground. If a drum is sitting on a sloped or uneven floor, it can roll, especially if the lid is loose, or the bottom can warp over time, leading to leaks. We advise our clients to store drums on flat, level surfaces, preferably on pallets to keep them off the concrete (which can cause rust on steel drums) and to make moving them easier. Also, if the contents inside the drum are temperature-sensitive—like some chemicals or food-grade oils—don’t store them in direct sunlight. Direct heat can expand the contents, which puts pressure on the seal, leading to leaks, and extreme cold can make some materials solidify, which also risks damage when you open the drum. I remember a client a few years ago who stored 200 drums outside in a parking lot during a heatwave; by the time they tried to move them, half of the drums had bulged out and some had leaked through the bungs. It was a $10,000 loss, all because they didn’t think about temperature when storing sealed drums.
Opening a sealed drum might seem like the final step, but it’s another area where accidents happen. The bung or lid is there to keep contents in, so removing it incorrectly can cause a sudden release of pressure—especially if the drum was exposed to temperature changes or has a volatile substance inside. Before opening a drum, stand to the side, not directly in front of the bung or lid. If there’s any built-up pressure inside, it will release toward the side instead of hitting you in the face. I always tell workers to give the bung a gentle tap with a hammer or a rubber mallet before trying to unscrew it. That tap releases any pressure that might have built up, which prevents the bung from shooting out when you twist it. For drums with a tight or rusted lid, don’t use a screwdriver or a pry bar to force it open—you can damage the lid and create a sharp edge that cuts you. Instead, use a drum wrench, which is designed to grip the lid evenly and twist it loose without damaging the metal. Also, make sure you’re wearing the right personal protective equipment (PPE) when opening drums: gloves (nitrile for most chemicals, heavy-duty work gloves for solids), safety glasses, and if the contents are hazardous, a face shield. I’ve seen a worker who didn’t wear safety glasses get splashed with a chemical when the bung shot out, and he ended up with a chemical burn on his eye that required surgery. That’s an accident that could have been avoided just by wearing basic PPE.
Another critical point: labeling and documenting the drums. As a supplier, we always label every sealed drum we send with the contents, the volume, any hazards (like flammable, corrosive, or toxic), and the expiration date if applicable. But too many businesses peel off those labels when the drums arrive, and then they have no idea what’s inside. That’s a huge safety risk—if you don’t know the contents, you can’t handle them properly, you can’t store them correctly, and you can’t respond if there’s a spill. For example, if a drum labeled “lubricant” is actually a flammable solvent, storing it near a heat source or near open flames could cause a fire. We advise all our clients to keep the original labels on the drums, and if they need to re-label them, make sure the new label has all the same information: contents, hazards, volume. If you don’t know what’s in a drum, don’t handle it—contact the sealed drum supplier you bought it from, and they can help you identify the contents safely.
Now, I know some of you might be thinking, “These are just common sense rules,” but you’d be surprised how often even basic safety precautions are ignored. In my 12 years as a sealed drum supplier, I’ve seen small companies go out of business because of one avoidable accident: a leaked chemical that contaminated their warehouse, leading to a cleanup cost they couldn’t afford, or a worker getting injured that required expensive medical bills and workers’ comp claims. The good news is that most of these accidents are preventable if you take the time to follow these steps.
If you’re a business that uses sealed drums—whether for manufacturing, logistics, or storage—and you’re looking to improve your safety protocols, or if you need high-quality, durable sealed drums that are designed to hold your contents safely, we’re here to help. We’ve supplied drums to businesses across industries, from food and beverage to chemical production, and we work with our clients to make sure they have the right drums and the right safety information to handle them properly. Don’t take chances with your workers’ safety or your business’s reputation. Reach out to us to discuss your sealed drum needs, ask questions about handling and storage, or get a quote for drums that meet your specifications. We’re committed to not just selling you a product, but to helping you keep your job site safe.
References
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). "Handling and Storage of Hazardous Materials."
American National Standards Institute (ANSI). "Safety Standards for Industrial Drum Handling and Storage."
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). "Code for the Storage of Flammable Liquids."
Plastic Parts (Note: No company name or contact details are included as requested, per the instruction to avoid fabricating such information.)
Jiangsu Xinhuasheng Packaging New Materials Co., Ltd.
Jiangsu Xinhuasheng Packaging New Materials Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional sealed drum manufacturers and suppliers in China, featured by quality products and low price. Please rest assured to wholesale durable sealed drum in stock here and get quotation from our factory. Customized orders are welcome.
Address: No. 5 Tieta Road, Industrial Park, Guyang Town, Dantu District, Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province, China.
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