Abstract: A modification to a robot end of arm tool to improve the retention of pail goods during transport by the tool includes affixing to the lower surface of a of rigid, planar, substrate, one or more pail lifting apparatus, each apparatus including a plurality of pail engaging fingers and a spacer block mounted to the substrate between the plurality of fingers. Each finger includes a flipper arm that is selectively, hydraulically controllable to move from a vertical to a horizontal position. When the flipper arm is in the horizontal position, it is able to physically engage the outer surface or ledge of an associated pail to provide support to the pail. The spacer block, located above the lid of the associated pail, when the pail is engaged by the plurality of fingers, restricts vertical movement of the pail during transport. The combination of fingers and a spacer block form one pail lifting apparatus. Multiple such apparatus may be affixed to the tool substrate.