Over-pressurized drums: Their causes and mitigation

Over-pressurized drums are not uncommon and are potentially dangerous. Drum over-pressurizations may be caused by slow chemical reactions, biological activity, radiolysis, and temperature/pressure changes. Dangers associated with over-pressurized drums range from catastrophic failure at high pressures to the forceful ejection of the lid at lower pressures when an open-top drum is opened. Because of these dangers, it is important to recognize both the symptoms of drum over-pressurization and the best and safest methods for mitigating over-pressurized drums. In the most severe cases of drum over-pressurization, both the top and bottom of the drum will be distended. In these cases, the safest approach for mitigating the situation is to use a remotely controlled drum punch.