>In summary, is there any reason why honey cannot be kept for a long
>time in such food service buckets, and perhaps after skimming an inch
>of the top, be quite safe to eat?
 
If it was in a sealed container, there is no reason to skim the top.
The test for spoilage is to smell it.  If it's sour, the moisture was too high
and it fermented.  Otherwise, it's fine.  Honey from ancient Egypt was fine
thousands of years later.
 
The only potential danger is the absorption of chemicals/heavy metals from the
storage containers.  If the buckets have not been recalled and were originally
intended for the purpose for which you're using them, fear not.