Abstract: A drum lifting apparatus includes a lifting beam having first and second ends. A first flange is fixedly attached to the first end of the beam and extends laterally therefrom. A first drum lip engagement extends from the first flange for engaging an annular lip of a first end of the drum. A second end of the beam has a shoulder defined thereon and has a threaded rod fixedly attached to the beam and extending from the shoulder. A releasable second flange has an opening therethrough through which the threaded rod is loosely received so that the second flange may slide on the rod and engage the shoulder of the lifting beam. The second flange extends laterally from the rod and has a second drum lip engagement extending therefrom toward the first flange for engaging a second annular lip on a second end of the drum. A threaded nut engages the threaded rod on a side of the second flange opposite the shoulder of the lifting beam for clamping the second flange against the end of the drum.