Opening Damaged Drums and Containers - Procedures for Opening

Follow these procedures when opening drums or containers:

• Hang or balance the drum opening equipment to minimize worker exertion.
• If the drum shows signs of swelling or bulging, perform all steps slowly. Relieve excess pressure prior to opening and, if possible, from a remote location using such devices as a pneumatic impact wrench or hydraulic penetration device.
• If pressure must be relieved manually, place a barrier such as explosion-resistant plastic sheeting between the worker and bung to deflect any gas, liquid, or solids that may be expelled as the bung is loosened.
• Open exotic drums and polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride-lined (PVC-lined) drums through the bung by removal or drilling.
• Exercise extreme caution when manipulating these containers.
• Do not open or sample individual containers within laboratory packs.
• Reseal open bungs and drill openings as soon as possible with new bungs or plugs to avoid explosions and/or vapor generation. If an open drum cannot be resealed, place the drum into an overpack, which is a larger drum that another drum fits into. Plug any openings in pressurized drums with pressure-venting caps set to a 5-psi (pounds per square inch) release to allow venting of vapor pressure.
• Decontaminate equipment after each use to avoid mixing incompatible wastes.

To learn more about HAZWOPER visit our HAZWOPER 40 Hour Online Training web page.