{"id":656,"date":"2026-11-09T20:14:54","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T12:14:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.scmtscnc.com\/blog\/?p=656"},"modified":"2026-11-09T20:14:54","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T12:14:54","slug":"what-safety-precautions-should-be-taken-when-handling-sealed-drums-4542-e6dfe7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.scmtscnc.com\/blog\/2026\/11\/09\/what-safety-precautions-should-be-taken-when-handling-sealed-drums-4542-e6dfe7\/","title":{"rendered":"What safety precautions should be taken when handling sealed drums?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve ever visited a manufacturing plant, chemical storage facility, or even a construction site, you\u2019ve probably seen stacks of sealed drums sitting in corner storage areas, waiting to be transported or emptied. As a sealed drum supplier who\u2019s been in this industry for over a decade, I\u2019ve seen firsthand how even a small misstep when handling these drums can lead to serious consequences\u2014from 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 \u201cit\u2019s just a drum,\u201d and that\u2019s where accidents start. That\u2019s why today, I want to share the safety precautions I\u2019ve learned over years of working with sealed drums, both as a supplier who sells these drums to businesses and as someone who\u2019s walked job sites to help clients troubleshoot handling issues. Sealed Drum<\/a><\/p>\n

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First, let\u2019s get clear on what a sealed drum actually is, because not all drums are the same. A sealed drum is a cylindrical container\u2014usually made of steel, sometimes plastic or fiberboard\u2014designed 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\u2019t have. Handling them isn\u2019t just about moving a heavy box; it\u2019s about respecting the contents inside, even if you can\u2019t see them.<\/p>\n

One of the most basic but overlooked precautions is inspecting the drum before you even pick it up. I can\u2019t tell you how many times a client has come to me saying a drum leaked during transport, only to find out they didn\u2019t 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\u2014like 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\u2014no loose bolts, no gaps between the lid and the drum\u2019s rim. If you find any damage, don\u2019t 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\u2019s hard to contain.<\/p>\n

Next, when it comes to lifting and moving sealed drums, you can\u2019t just grab the top rim and hoist it up. I\u2019ve seen workers try to lift a 55-gallon drum (which can weigh over 400 pounds when full) by the edges, and that\u2019s a surefire way to slip and drop it. The right tools aren\u2019t just convenient\u2014they\u2019re 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\u2019t roll off. For drums that aren\u2019t on pallets, drum dollies with rubberized grips work well, especially for concrete or factory floors, because they prevent the drum from slipping. If you\u2019re using a forklift to move drums, make sure you\u2019re using a drum clamp attachment, not just the standard forks. The forks can puncture the bottom of the drum if you\u2019re 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\u2019s tempting, especially if you\u2019re 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 \u201cDo Not Roll\u201d for exactly that reason, but I\u2019ve 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\u2014no rolling.<\/p>\n

Storing sealed drums is just as important as moving them, and I\u2019ve 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\u2019re 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\u2014like some chemicals or food-grade oils\u2014don\u2019t 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\u2019t think about temperature when storing sealed drums.<\/p>\n

Opening a sealed drum might seem like the final step, but it\u2019s 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\u2014especially 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\u2019s 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\u2019t use a screwdriver or a pry bar to force it open\u2014you 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\u2019re 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\u2019ve seen a worker who didn\u2019t 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\u2019s an accident that could have been avoided just by wearing basic PPE.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s inside. That\u2019s a huge safety risk\u2014if you don\u2019t know the contents, you can\u2019t handle them properly, you can\u2019t store them correctly, and you can\u2019t respond if there\u2019s a spill. For example, if a drum labeled \u201clubricant\u201d 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\u2019t know what\u2019s in a drum, don\u2019t handle it\u2014contact the sealed drum supplier you bought it from, and they can help you identify the contents safely.<\/p>\n

Now, I know some of you might be thinking, \u201cThese are just common sense rules,\u201d but you\u2019d be surprised how often even basic safety precautions are ignored. In my 12 years as a sealed drum supplier, I\u2019ve 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\u2019t afford, or a worker getting injured that required expensive medical bills and workers\u2019 comp claims. The good news is that most of these accidents are preventable if you take the time to follow these steps.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a business that uses sealed drums\u2014whether for manufacturing, logistics, or storage\u2014and you\u2019re looking to improve your safety protocols, or if you need high-quality, durable sealed drums that are designed to hold your contents safely, we\u2019re here to help. We\u2019ve 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\u2019t take chances with your workers\u2019 safety or your business\u2019s 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\u2019re committed to not just selling you a product, but to helping you keep your job site safe.<\/p>\n

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References
\nOccupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). "Handling and Storage of Hazardous Materials."
\nAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI). "Safety Standards for Industrial Drum Handling and Storage."
\nNational Fire Protection Association (NFPA). "Code for the Storage of Flammable Liquids."<\/p>\n

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Plastic Parts<\/a> (Note: No company name or contact details are included as requested, per the instruction to avoid fabricating such information.)<\/p>\n

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Jiangsu Xinhuasheng Packaging New Materials Co., Ltd.<\/a>
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.
E-mail: manager@jsxhsgs.com
WebSite: https:\/\/www.xhsibc.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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