| Every workplace has an accident waiting to happen. If that workplace has heavy machinery operating, the danger of injury accidents occurring is even greater. Factories are after all, manned by humans, who are not infallible. Mistakes will be made and oversights will occur. Whether it is an accident or careless action, the result of a failure to pay attention in the workplace can be dire. Workplaces where conveyor machinery is present provide one of the most dangerous environments for those who work on them or around them. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, over fifty deaths per year result due to conveyor negligence or malfunction. Conveyors are, of course, paragons of efficiency and cost saving machines, but if they are not implemented correctly, they can cause harm and become a detriment rather than a virtue. Workers compensation claims are becoming more cumbersome every day, and insurance costs are skyrocketing, making it mandatory to take workplace safety a priority. Let's review a few of the common safety rules and the more hazardous conveyor parts to determine a better understanding of how to avoid accidents in the workplace. In light of conveyor safety rules, the old adage, rules are made to be broken, doesn't apply. First rule is to never perform routine maintenance tasks or repairs while the machinery is plugged in. And when you do service and repair your machinery, hire experts in the field, this is not the place for trainees. Another hard and fast rule is to place all objects out of range of any moving parts. Such things as hair, baggy clothing and jewelry must be kept away from machinery to avoid anyone getting tangled up in the works. It is also key to remember that a conveyor is not a toy. Riding, sitting, or leaning on production conveyors is never recommended. Any type of action that overloads the conveyor or uses it out side of its intended job is highly discouraged. To assure safety, authorized employees should be the only ones allowed to control the system at any time. Safety guards and protectors should not be tampered with and all possible obstructions should be eliminated before use. Conveyors are complex working mechanisms whose power should not be taken lightly. Lets take a look at some of the more powerful and dangerous aspects of this productivity enhancer. Conveyors are exposed pieces of machinery that have a lot of points of concern. Some of the most hazardous sections include the power transmission, the guard joints and transfer mechanisms. Other dangerous portions are called "squeeze" or "nip" points. These refer to any junction where moving parts meet, causing breaks or changes in the system while setting up opportunities for things to get caught or stuck. Some of the more troublesome areas are anywhere things can spill, jam, pinch or shear. Dead spaces, as well as blind spots, can also be cause for concern. Awareness and caution are ultimately some of the best policies when working on or around your system. Any piece of the machine that poses potential harm should be marked by a sign and protected by guard or barrier. Regardless of what you use your assembly for, it is crucial to take every measure possible to protect the workers responsible for maintaining the belts, drives and processes. Any misconduct at the workplace should be reported at once to the supervisor of the area. You must encourage and insist that your employees do what they are always reluctant to do and that is tattle on their peers. Instill in them the importance of avoiding an accident even though it may mean straining a friendship or causing some hostility. It simply isn't worth the risk of one of their fellows losing a life or a limb. Anyone who is responsible for operating or using the conveyor should read all the safety manuals pertaining to their particular equipment. To learn more about Chain Pusher Dogs, Dropforged Rivetless Chain, or other conveyor related parts, please visit Blue Water Manufacturing.  | |||
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