Conveyor Safety – Is Your Operation As Safe As You Think It Is
Workplace safety is a priority of any business. In factories or locations where there is heavy machinery in operation, the risk of accident and injury is very much of a concern. Because the machinery is managed and operated by human beings, there are bound to be errors and oversights. Whether by accident or careless action, the result of not focusing on the job at hand can be dire, indeed. Facilities where employees interact with conveyor systems harbor some of the most dangerous occupations in the workplace. The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Statistics found that more than 50 deaths occur every year directly attributable to conveyor negligence or error.
Conveyors are great for productivity and are cost effective pieces machinert. If these marvels are incorrectly set up, however, they can have serious detrimental effects. Workers compensation claims are more complicated and more of a burden every day and insurance costs are almost prohibitive, so now more than ever, safety in the workplace must be a top priority of any business. If we look at some of the most common safety rules and review the most hazardous parts of a conveyor, it will be easier to put forth a basic concept of how workplace accidents can be avoided.
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.
The machinery in a conveyor system is exposed which brings concern to lots of areas. Some of the riskiest areas are the power transmission, the guard joints and transfer mechanisms. Others include the “squeeze” or “nip” joints. These terms refer to any conjunction of moving parts which may lead to breaks or alterations in the system and give rise to opportunities for items to stick or snag. Troublesome spots may occur anywhere things can spill, jam, pinch or shear. Blind spots and dead spaces are also worrisome.
Be aware and be cautious are simple rules but some of the most crucial dictums of any safety policy when working around conveyor systems. Train employees to mark with signage any piece of the conveyor that could cause potential harm and separate the area with some kind of guard or barrier. No matter how you use your conveyor machinery, you must make every possible effort to protect your workers, particularly those that work with maintenance of the belts, drives and processes.
If you ever see any misconduct at the work place it is wise to report the violations immediately to a supervisor. Although it may feel like telling on someone or cause a rift in a relationship, nothing is worth the risk of losing life or limb. If you are in anyway responsible for operating or utilizing a conveyor then it is a best practice to read and review as many conveyor manuals and articles related to safety
Visit Wilkie Brothers Coveyors for more information on conveyors or to order Cignys Conveyor Parts, Midwest Trolleys or any other related replacement parts.
