Safety Guidelines for Conveyor Operations | SmashingTechNews

You can never be too careful in the workplace. In any factory setting or location where heavy machinery operates there is the very real risk of injury and malfunction. Managed by humans, sometimes mistakes can be made and oversights will happen. Regardless if it is by accident or careless actions, the consequences for not paying attention while on the job can be deadly. One of the most dangerous occupations of the work place is employee conveyor engagement. The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics has noted that well over fifty deaths take place a year as a result of conveyor negligence or mishap.

Although conveyors can be great efficiency boosters and cost saving mechanisms, when implemented improperly they at times can do more harm then good. As workers compensation claims become more burdensome and insurance costs unfold at steeper rates, it is now more important then ever to take workplace safety seriously. By looking at some of the common safety rules and reviewing the more dangerous parts of the conveyor we might be able to establish a better fundamental understanding of how to cut down on workplace mishaps.

Although many people feel that rules are meant to be broken, in the case of conveyor safety this is never the case. One of the first rules is to make sure the system is not running and the motor is disconnected before any maintenance is performed. If you do plan on servicing your system it is crucial to use only properly trained personal and technicians so as to avoid any potential injury due to lack of expertise. Another great safety policy is to keep all loose objects away from the machine. Items like hair, baggy clothing and jewelry should be kept away from the moving parts to skirt anyone becoming hurt by accidental entanglement.

A conveyor is no plaything and using it as such by riding, sitting or leaning up against a production conveyor is never a good idea. Any unintended use of the conveyor or overloading it is always prohibited. The only people who should be allowed to operatethe system must be authorized employees. Safety guards and protectors must be in place and not tampered with and all obstructions removed from them before the system is turned on. Conveyors are intricate working machineries and very powerful. This power must never be taken for granted or underestimated. Now let's review the really dangerous and powerful aspects of this marvel of efficiency.

The nature of conveyors is that their mechanical parts are exposed, which should cause concern to those who work with them. Some of the more dangerous parts are the power transmission, the guard joints and transfer mechanisms. Then there are what is known as "squeeze" or "nip" points. These are the junctions where moving parts come together, where breaks or changes to the system may incur opportunities for items to be snagged or jammed. Any area on the line where things can spill, jam, pinch or shear are troublesome spots as well. Dead spaces and blind spots are also cause for caution and concern.

Common sense with awareness and caution remain the foundation of any good safety policy when working around open machinery of any type. Any part of the conveyor system that poses a potential risk should be marked with signage and clearly blocked off. No matter how your system is utilized, it is critical to take all measures you can to protect your employees who come in direct contact with the belts, drives and processes.

Any employee misconduct must be reported to supervisors. This must be gotten across to all employees who are often reluctant to tattle on their fellows. Nothing, not a job relationship, or fear of creating hostile feelings, is worth an accident that could very well cause loss of life or limb. If you have anything to do with conveyors in your place of business, you must read all the safety manuals and directives you can that are related to your particular setup.

Visit Wilkie Brothers Coveyors for more information on conveyors or to order Frost Pusher Dogs, Cignys Conveyor Components or any other related replacement parts.