subject: Conveyor Safety - Are You Running A Safe Operation? [print this page] 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 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.
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.
