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Safe and effective chemical management has become a central component of workplace safety. The responsible handling, storage and use of chemicals in the workplace from acquisition to disposal, through legislation, have been placed on the employer. Designing and implementing safe workplace practices are not only a case for legislation, but businesses are now well versed in the adverse effects on production and staff morale when accidents involving chemicals occur within the working environment. The process of managing chemicals in the workplace can be broken down into specific phases, including the acquisition, identification, inventory, storage and disposal of such liquids and products.

One of the most common causes of chemical accidents is in the storage, movement and dispersal of the liquid from the storage container. Best practices relating to chemical safety insist that hazardous fluids must be stored in a manner that minimises health and safety hazards to any person, buildings, equipment and the environment. Additionally, chemicals must be stored in segregated areas according to their compatibility, as to reduce the chances of the various chemicals coming into contact with each other and create an adverse reaction, such as smoke, fire or the release of flammable or poisonous gases. Furthermore, it is essential that these fluids be held in the smallest amounts possible; if there is an adverse event, the amount of chemicals involved will be limited to a minimum. However, other issues of safety arise when transferring hazardous chemicals from the original container to a smaller unit of storage.

Chemical resistant drums are a logical and trusted choice of many in the manufacturing, productive, food and medical industries to ensure that any hazardous materials are safely secured. However, as mentioned previously, many accidents and near incidents occur when chemicals are being extracted from the unit of storage. This is where chemical resistant drum pumps have been used successfully; providing accurate and measurable fluid transfer in a manner which is safe for those using the pump.

Award winning chemical resistant drum pumps are constructed to contain neither a vacuum pump nor a piston; with gentle pressure all that is being required to transfer fluid on both the down and up stroke. Being constructed with polypropylene and low density polyethylene, with no moving parts, they offer true reliability and longevity in a variety of workplace environments. When considering the safety of your employees and the productive capacity of the business, don’t take second chances with chemicals and utilise only the best chemical resistant drum pumps available in the market today.

When considering the purchase of a new plastic drum pump, like anything else, considerations must be given to the balance of quality versus cost. As many individuals, businesses and organisations have realised, buying the cheapest piece of equipment and enduring the suffering of repeated maintenance issues, lost time and productivity and the costs of replacing numerous parts does not necessarily equate to the best investment. The value of buying quality is the assurance that the construction materials and procedures are simply the best on the market. This equates to longevity of use in a maintenance free environment, where the plastic drum pump can be relied upon to perform day in and day out - essentially what it should do.

So how do you assess the quality of plastic drum pumps on the market? Simple… look at their fabrication techniques, the materials utilised in construction, the design of the pump itself and whether they are considered innovators in the marketplace. A recognised and independent award for hand pump design should provide a great indicator of a company and their dedication to not only providing plastic drum pumps that implement the best of manufacturing techniques, but strive for innovation of the continued delivery of a better, more reliable and easier to use hand pump. Look for a pump that simply requires a small amount of pressure to be placed on the handle, in a downward and upward motion, to get the plastic drum pump moving liquids through the system. A double action pump will deliver liquid on both strokes resulting in high volume delivery rates at low pressures. This makes it easy to use as well as safe. Safety is extremely important, especially when transferring chemical liquids that can be harmful if they come into contact with the skin. A reliable pumping device also prevents potential wastage or unnecessary spills.

Utilising polypropylene and polyethylene construction techniques, a plastic drum pump is built to last, being able to handle all liquid types, including harsh chemicals. Features such as an anti-pumping safety device which ensures no unauthorised use, along with a pump that draws from the bottom of the container ensuring minimal waste, leaves this pump in a category of its own. Furthermore, it is important that the materials which plastic drum pumps are constructed of are FDA approved - something to keep in mind when looking at various product offerings. This means that they are completely safe with a range of food products and liquids.