Opening Drums

Employees must open drums and containers to sample the contents and determine their hazards. It is possible that, at times, this process will require a separate staging area.

Whether opened in a staging area or in another part of the site, the opening procedures are the same. OSHA recommends the following procedures, as detailed in 29 CFR 1910.120(j):

• In situations requiring a supplied-air respiratory protection system, put a bank of air cylinders outside the work area and supply air to the operators via airlines and escape SCBAs. (This allows employees to work in a relative level of comfort for extended periods of time.)
• Place explosion-resistant plastic shields between employees and the drums. (This will protect them should the drums detonate.)
• Locate controls for drum opening equipment, monitoring equipment, and fire suppression equipment behind this explosion-resistant plastic shield.
• If possible, continuously monitor the process of opening to ensure that all employees are not in danger.
• Place sensors of monitoring equipment (such as radiation detection instruments or oxygen meters) as close as possible to the drum opening area.

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