High-density polyethylene (HDPE) storage drums are a great option for most chemicals because they're resistant to nearly every common substance. However, some highly corrosive and reactive chemicals still shouldn't be stored in these drums.
There's no substitute for a thorough and in-depth knowledge of relevant safety procedures. The Emergency Response Guidebook is an especially important document, as it provides detailed instructions on how to respond to various types of hazmat incidents.
Knowledge is power, and proper labeling will give employees the knowledge and the power to handle chemical drums safely. Read up on the GHS chemical labeling requirements to learn if your chemicals are considered hazardous and if they require hazmat labels for their shipping barrels. If hazmat labels and declarations are required, make sure that you've also filled out hazmat shipper's declaration forms for your carrier.
Reconditioned plastic drums can save you a considerable amount of money, but you don't want to sacrifice quality in the process. Thus, reconditioned drums should only be purchased from a qualified supplier DPI Recyclers. We use the latest techniques to clean our drums thoroughly and make sure they're free of residue.
Having proper safety equipment can make all the difference in an emergency situation. Thus, you should always keep key equipment such as spill containment racks and salvage drums ready to contain a spill at a moment's notice. You should also check which fire extinguishers are compatible with the types of materials you store and have the correct type on hand.
Plastic shipping drums generally use one of two types of sealing mechanism: open-head and closed-head. No matter which one you're using, it's critical to check the sealing mechanism on your drums before they go out the door. Seals should fit tightly and have no leaks. Even a small one can quickly become a bigger one, so it's important to keep a zero-tolerance policy in effect.
When you're dispensing the chemical contents of a drum, you need to have the right materials on hand to do it correctly. Before you begin, you should make a checklist of what accessories you'll need, including funnels, pumps, faucets and a bung wrench to open bung-style drums. If your substance is a liquid that requires warming before being decanted, check out our easy-to-use bucket and drum heaters as well.
Regular inspections of plastic drums in storage should be as much a part of warehouse operations as standard practices like taking inventory. It's much better to discover a leak or other issue early so that it can be fixed before it becomes an unpleasant (and possibly dangerous) surprise.