07:36 am, Friday 27 February, 2009

WorkCover NSW has arranged for free disposal of old metal drums in the Blue Mountains and Orana regions on 28 March 2009.

According to the safety authority, there have been 27 Serious Injuries since 2001 from attempts to carry out hot work on old drums or tanks.

In 2008, a 42-year-old man was seriously burned after sparks from an electric buffer ignited vapours from acetone used to clean a tank. In a separate incident, a 17-year-old apprentice boilermaker was seriously injured while cutting a metal drum with an Angle Grinder.

WorkCover says sparks from Hot Cutting Or Welding can ignite residual material or fumes in drums that have stored Flammable Materials Such As Petrol, Oil Or Paint Thinners.

Registered employers can dispose of 44 gallon drums or similar containers by taking them to two drop-off locations on 28 March.

Drums can be dropped off between 8 and 11am at Lithgow Council Works Depot, Mort Street Lithgow, and from 1 to 4pm at Wallerawang Works Depot, off Main Street Wallerawang

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