Updated 9\/7\/2021<\/p>\n
Employers are responsible for creating a safe working environment by having the proper material handling equipment in place for their employees.\u00a0 This is especially necessary when it comes to handling drums.\u00a0 Old school manual drum handling methods is hard work, increases the risk of accidents and workplace injuries and should no longer be used.\u00a0 Rolling drums<\/a> from pallets or using conventional drum trucks to move or weigh drums are accidents waiting to happen.\u00a0 Add operator fatigue from a long hot day and the odds are even greater. \u00a0 Pinched fingers, strained backs, slip & fall accidents and other work-related injuries can cost companies a hundred times more money than purchasing the proper safety equipment in the first place.\u00a0 Not to mention the loss of a key employee. In fact, over 95% of all drum handling injuries can be eliminated by using the right equipment and properly training employees on its use.\u00a0 Being pro-active by implementing the proper drum handling equipment in your facility is better than finally reacting to an employee workplace injury.<\/p>\n So where to start increasing safety by cleaning up your work place environment:<\/strong><\/p>\n If you are using conventional drum trucks<\/strong>, that require the feet to slide under a drum, a hook placed over the drum chime and the operator to break back the drum, is the first place to start.\u00a0 There are more accidents involving this type of drum handling equipment than you can imagine.\u00a0 What in the world is ergonomic about using 1950\u2019s technology to handle drums?\u00a0 Not to mention the chime hook slipping and the drum trucks feet poking a hole in the bottom of the drum, resulting in a chemical spill, clean up time and loss of product.\u00a0 Replace this antique with an EasyLift ergonomic drum transporter that keeps the drum in a vertical position.\u00a0 EasyLift\u00a0ergonomic drum transporters<\/strong> <\/a>are designed to be used by any operator, not just larger individuals.\u00a0 Models are available with foot pedal lift, DC powered lift, pneumatic and air powered lift.\u00a0 A good drum transporter should also be required to have true ergonomic casters that minimize the effort required to move the load, not the cheapest caster man has ever made.\u00a0 Remember, if you purchase cheap drum handling equipment<\/a>\u00a0you increase workplace risks, and your employees will most likely not use it, so where is the benefit.<\/p>\n Drum Scales<\/strong>:\u00a0 If you use drum scales, what is your current method of placing & removing the drum from the drum scale?\u00a0 Many drum scales are equipped with ramps and employees are either rolling drums onto the scale or back to using the conventional drum trucks to propel the drum up the ramp.\u00a0\u00a0 By removing the ramp, the EasyLift drum transporter can now place the drum on the scale.\u00a0 As an added benefit, the drum is placed softly on the scale which is better over use to keep the drum scale in calibration.\u00a0 Older drum scales not provided with ramps can also utilize the EasyLift in the same fashion as placing drums on pallets.\u00a0 One more added benefit: EasyLift ergonomic drum transporters equipped with load cells and digital weight indicator eliminate the need for space consuming floor scales, freeing up space in your working environment.\u00a0 Less repetition of the drum between pallets and floor scales increases safety.\u00a0 Simply lift the drum an inch and you\u2019ve weighed it without moving it.\u00a0 If your company conducts a physical inventory of partial drum weights, this method is much safer while being an extreme time saver.<\/p>\n <\/strong> If your employees are required to move drums up and down ramps, Eagle-Grip lift truck attachments are the most cost effective solution for handling drums safely on inclines.\u00a0 This includes unloading drums from trailers or overseas shipping containers which always seem to be inclined.\u00a0 Most companies use Eagle-Grip attachments for unloading\/loading drums from trucks.\u00a0 Floor loading drums in trailers provides a safer ride during transport and saves money on pallets.\u00a0 Most all major LTL freight companies have been using these attachments for years, so pallets are not a necessity to ship all drum orders.\u00a0\u00a0 If space conditions are not the most ideal for lift truck traffic through the plant, consider a self-propelled Drum Hauler for moving drums one at a time if traveling long distances or if ramp conditions exist in work areas.<\/p>\n Ok, what other drum handling conditions need improvement?<\/strong><\/p>\n Does your company stack empty drums in trailers manually? An empty drum with an EPA inch or less of residual product can easily weigh 50 lb. or 60 lb.\u00a0 Many trailers permit stacking these drums three high.\u00a0 So what is ergonomic about this operation?\u00a0 EasyLift empty drum stacker<\/a><\/strong> are designed for stacking drums three high in trailers and eliminate another possible risk factor like back strain injury.<\/p>\nHandling drums on ramps or in\/out of trucks using Eagle-Grip lift truck attachments:<\/strong><\/h2>\n