How to use barrel lifters safely
Barrel lifters are typically used when large quantities of barrels or drums need to be moved, lifted or emptied safely and efficiently. Ben Dobbs, Head of Global Standards and Legislation at LEEA, provides some tips for their safe use.
Barrel lifters are a specialised lifting accessory that can lift a barrel when used with a lifting machine, and, if fitted with the necessary mechanism, can manipulate it when suspended.
They are commonly used in manufacturing plants for lifting drums containing liquids, powders or granules onto mixing platforms, pouring stations or conveyors. They help safely move hazardous or corrosive materials in sealed drums in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. In warehouses they can load or unload drums from pallets or trucks for storage or distribution. Oil and lubricant facilities – such as refineries, depots or maintenance areas – will typically use barrel lifters for handling oil drums, fuel barrels, and lubricant containers. In the food and beverage Industry barrel lifters are commonly stainless steel for the hygienic handling of barrels containing ingredients. In construction and waste management a barrel lifter may handle drums containing adhesives, sealants, waste materials or cement additives. There are even smaller barrel lifters for precision handling of smaller drums in such places as laboratories or smaller production facilities.
The right type
Because barrel lifters are generally employed in specific circumstances to lift specific loads, they are not usually regarded as ‘general purpose’ equipment. Furthermore, as suggested in some of the applications mentioned above, it is often necessary to manipulate a barrel, for example by rotating or tilting it while it is suspended. This requires fitting a mechanism, which will generally be operated by direct manual effort but in some cases through a geared mechanism.
The first of the three main types of barrel lifter is the Top Gripping Barrel Lifter, which grips the top of a barrel to lift and lower it. While suspended, the only possible manipulation is rotation about the barrel’s vertical axis, using the swivel in the hook of the lifting machine.
Next is the End Gripping Barrel Lifter, which grips the ends of a barrel to lift and lower. Suspended barrels can only be rotated about their horizontal axis using the swivel in the hook of the lifting machine. Finally, there is the Side Gripping Barrel Lifter. This grips the side of the barrel, allowing it to be rotated about its vertical axis using the swivel in the hook of the lifting machine. Fitted with the appropriate mechanism, it can tilt or rotate a barrel about its horizontal axis.
Safe use of barrel lifters
The choice of which type of barrel lifter to use will depend on the application. However, a major factor in its safe use is the characteristics of the barrel itself, which must be capable of withstanding the forces exerted upon it by the barrel lifter. The ability of the load to resist the forces imposed on it during lifting is an important consideration in all lifting operations, but when lifting barrels it assumes critical importance. This may not have been accounted for when the barrel was designed, making it necessary to conduct calculations or proving trials to ensure that the barrel can be lifted without undue distortion or potential to collapse.
It is strongly recommended that the exact nature of the application is adequately discussed between the user and the barrel lifter supplier, covering the lifting capacity required, the dimensions of the barrel(s) to be lifted and the weight of the barrel lifter itself, the lifting machine it is to be used with, available headroom, the degree of portability required, whether manipulation of the suspended barrel is required, and if so to what extent? If the documentation required by legislation is not on record, refer the barrel lifter to a Competent Person for thorough examination. Because barrel lifters are normally used for closely defined applications, it is usually possible to give the designer or supplier precise details of the task to be performed.
Manufacturers will issue specific instructions for safe use, but there are additional important points to observe. These start with not using a barrel loader to lift people or for operations and loads other that those specified. Do not attempt to a lift barrel it has not been designed to lift, and loads should not be lifted while there are people in the danger zone.
Ensure that the surface of the load to which the barrel lifter is attached is clean and dry. Lubricants or other substances contaminating the surface may severely impair the ability of the barrel lifter to grip the load adequately.
Do not attempt to lift the load until you are satisfied that the barrel lifter is capable of the lift – consult the manufacturer’s instructions. The lifter should not be subjected to shock loads, particularly once the load has been raised, and be aware of the danger of unbalanced loads.
Particular care needs to be taken when manipulating a suspended barrel to empty it because the position of the centre of gravity may change during discharge, causing a lateral movement of the barrel. A sudden discharge of the contents may cause a recoil which, for some designs, could cause the release of the barrel.
Ensure that the suspended barrel is transported gently to avoid swaying and do not attempt to release the lifter until the load has been set down and is stable. Finally, if the contents of the barrel are hazardous then always use appropriate safe working practices and personal protective equipment.
Further advice can be found in the LEEA COPSULE (Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Lifting Equipment), which can be accessed for free at leeaint.com. Because barrel lifting applications tend to be specialised any advice given here should be augmented by the specialist advice provided by the supplier of the barrel lifter.
