The American company Broce Manufacturing has launched a new forklift attachment designed to make working with industrial drums safer and more efficient. The Grip-O-Matic Drum Handlers are mechanical attachments specifically developed for lifting and moving drums in industrial environments.
According to the manufacturer, the system is characterised by a robust construction that can withstand intensive use in warehouses, production facilities and other logistics environments. The attachment is designed to eliminate the manual lifting of heavy drums, a significant source of occupational accidents and work-related back complaints.
For HSE professionals, the introduction of such equipment is relevant because the handling of industrial drums – often filled with chemicals, oils or other hazardous substances – poses a significant risk in the workplace. In addition to the physical risk of lifting loads of up to 200 kilograms, there is also the potential for leaks, spillages and exposure to hazardous substances when drums are handled incorrectly.
The mechanical operation of the Grip-O-Matic eliminates the need for manual intervention during the gripping and releasing of drums. This not only reduces the risk of overexertion and musculoskeletal disorders among workers, but also the risk of falls and crushing. Because the system operates automatically, safety becomes less dependent on the individual skills or alertness of the forklift operator.
The application of specialised forklift attachments fits within the broader trend towards mechanisation and ergonomic improvements in logistics processes. For safety professionals, this represents an additional option in the hierarchy of control measures, whereby engineering controls make work on the shop floor safer without relying solely on personal protective equipment or behavioural measures.
Companies that regularly work with industrial drums can improve both their safety performance and increase productivity by implementing such systems. The faster and safer transport of drums can also lead to less damage to products and packaging, which further reduces secondary risks such as chemical exposure.
Source: Broce Automatic Mechanical Forklift Attachment, 2026-09-04T14:00:00.000Z, https://www.ishn.com/articles/115576-broce-automatic-mechanical-forklift-attachment