33% of incidents that occur in transportation are the result of damage that occurs during the process of loading or unloading. Furthermore, most of the damage that occurs during the unloading/loading process is related to puncture by forklift, nails and other sharp objects used to secure a load in a container.
It’s not news that, apart from Skolnik, all forms of packaging have been on “diet” for the last 20 years. Less steel, less plastic, less paper — it’s all about reduction of material thickness to reduce cost and natural resource depletion. A plus in the name of Sustainability but in the case of steel drums, this means increased risk. We know of other manufacturers who have reduced the weight of their drums by as much as 25%, claiming that these lighter gauge drums perform as well as the heavier ancestor. They do not!
The DOT (Department of Transportation), claims that 25% of hazardous material incidents occur during the process of loading or unloading for transportation. Of these, 61% of the failures were due to drums being punctured or crushed with 63% of failures the result of a forklift accident; improper preparation; inadequate blocking and bracing; impact with a sharp object, and abrasion.
With wall thickness diminishing, statistics now confirm that the increase in packaging incidents relates directly to these “slimmer” versions of the steel drum “work-horse.” The result is more clean-ups, more product loss, greater risk, higher insurance premiums — all for very little savings. In my opinion, a packaging option is not favorable if, by diminishing the cost, the risk to the contents is increased. In the case of steel drums, thickness does matter.