SafeWork SA issues storage drums warning following fire incidents

SafeWork SA Issues Storage Drums Warning Following Fire Incidents

Following two separate incidents of explosive fires that led to significant burns among workers, SafeWork SA has alerted employers to the risks involved in cutting into previously used storage drums. Both events highlight serious hazards facing plant operators across South Australian workplaces, and they serve as a timely reminder for every industry that handles chemical containers.

What Caused the Fires?

According to SafeWork SA, the drums involved in both recent incidents had formerly contained flammable materials, but they had been empty for a considerable period. Despite appearing safe, residual chemical vapours remained trapped inside, creating conditions ripe for explosion once heat or sparks were introduced.

SafeWork SA is encouraging both employers and employees to pause, reflect, and evaluate risk prior to making any modifications to a previously used storage drum. This guidance applies broadly across industry sectors where drums, barrels, or tanks are repurposed for plant maintenance or fabrication work.

Why Empty Drums Still Pose Hazards

The workplace safety authority advises that even drums emptied for an extended duration may still hold residual materials or vapours and should not be subjected to heat exposure. This is a critical safety consideration for any industry relying on plant equipment involving hot work near chemical storage.

"The heat and sparks from tools can cause a fire, explosion or release of hazardous vapours. Rinsing drums with water or other cleaning substances does not eliminate the risk," SafeWork SA stated.

Key Safety Takeaways for Employers

• Never assume a drum is safe simply because it appears empty or has been cleaned.
• Treat all previously used containers as potentially hazardous until proven otherwise through proper testing.
• Avoid hot work, cutting, or grinding on drums that once held flammable substances.
• Consult health and safety guidance before modifying transport containers or plant equipment.
• Ensure workers understand chemical hazards linked to residual vapours before undertaking related tasks.

These incidents reinforce broader lessons for industry professionals managing plant, transport equipment, and storage facilities. Whether drums are used for fuel, solvents, or other flammable liquids, the risks of explosion remain long after the original contents have been removed.

Building a Safer Industry Culture

SafeWork SA's warning reflects a wider push across industry to strengthen workplace safety practices around hazardous materials handling. Employers in construction, manufacturing, and transport sectors should review how storage drums are assessed, labelled, and disposed of within their operations.

For organisations seeking to strengthen their approach to chemical safety, reviewing a SOP for chemical handling and storage can help establish clear procedures for managing containers safely. Similarly, businesses in sectors such as agriculture handling flammable liquids may benefit from a fertiliser storage and handling SWMS to guide safe practices around drum use and transport.

Given the explosion risk associated with hot work near flammable residue, industry teams should also consider readiness measures. Reviewing fire extinguisher use instructions and maintaining a fire fighting equipment procedure ensures teams remain prepared should sparks ignite hazardous vapours during plant work. Businesses within emergency response sectors may also find value in exploring fire services safety packages tailored to their operational needs.

This latest alert follows a pattern of proactive communication from the regulator. SafeWork SA previously issued a warning following a fatal incident involving a grain bin, plus guidance addressing heatwave risks for employers and a separate warning about farm safety following agricultural fatalities. Together, these alerts underscore the regulator's ongoing commitment to reducing preventable harm across every industry it oversees.

Employers are urged to treat storage drums, plant machinery, and transport containers with the same caution as any other hazardous work environment. Prioritising health outcomes and hazard awareness now can prevent devastating incidents later, protecting both workers and broader industry reputation.

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