| an never be too careful in the workplace. In any | | | | intended job is highly discouraged. To assure safety, |
| factory setting or location where heavy machinery | | | | authorized employees should be the only ones |
| operates there is the very real risk of injury and | | | | allowed to control the system at any time. Safety |
| malfunction. Managed by humans, sometimes | | | | guards and protectors should not be tampered with |
| mistakes can be made and oversights will happen. | | | | and all possible obstructions should be eliminated |
| Regardless if it is by accident or careless actions, the | | | | before use. Conveyors are complex working |
| consequences for not paying attention while on the | | | | mechanisms whose power should not be taken lightly. |
| job can be deadly. One of the most dangerous | | | | Lets take a look at some of the more powerful and |
| occupations of the work place is employee conveyor | | | | dangerous aspects of this productivity enhancer. |
| engagement. The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau | | | | The nature of conveyors is that their mechanical |
| of Labor Statistics has noted that well over fifty | | | | parts are exposed, which should cause concern to |
| deaths take place a year as a result of conveyor | | | | those who work with them. Some of the more |
| negligence or mishap. | | | | dangerous parts are the power transmission, the |
| Although conveyors can be great efficiency boosters | | | | guard joints and transfer mechanisms. Then there are |
| and cost saving mechanisms, when implemented | | | | what is known as "squeeze" or "nip" points. These |
| improperly they at times can do more harm then | | | | are the junctions where moving parts come |
| good. As workers compensation claims become more | | | | together, where breaks or changes to the system |
| burdensome and insurance costs unfold at steeper | | | | may incur opportunities for items to be snagged or |
| rates, it is now more important then ever to take | | | | jammed. Any area on the line where things can spill, |
| workplace safety seriously. By looking at some of | | | | jam, pinch or shear are troublesome spots as well. |
| the common safety rules and reviewing the more | | | | Dead spaces and blind spots are also cause for |
| dangerous parts of the conveyor we might be able | | | | caution and concern. |
| to establish a better fundamental understanding of | | | | Common sense with awareness and caution remain |
| how to cut down on workplace mishaps. | | | | the foundation of any good safety policy when |
| Rules are not meant to be broken in the land of | | | | working around open machinery of any type. Any |
| conveyor systems. One cautionary note that should | | | | part of the conveyor system that poses a potential |
| not be forgotten is to make certain the machinery is | | | | risk should be marked with signage and clearly |
| turned off and disconnected prior to the | | | | blocked off. No matter how your system is utilized, it |
| performance of any maintenance. When the need to | | | | is critical to take all measures you can to protect |
| service your system arises, use only thoroughly | | | | your employees who come in direct contact with the |
| trained personnel who are expert in what they are | | | | belts, drives and processes. |
| working on. This is not the place for trainees or the | | | | If you ever see any misconduct at the work place it |
| merely curious. Another simple but necessary | | | | is wise to report the violations immediately to a |
| precaution is to remove all loose objects from around | | | | supervisor. Although it may feel like telling on |
| the machine. This also includes things like hair, baggy | | | | someone or cause a rift in a relationship, nothing is |
| clothing, jewelry or whatever to avoid any tangling | | | | worth the risk of losing life or limb. If you are in |
| with the machinery. | | | | anyway responsible for operating or utilizing a |
| It is also key to remember that a conveyor is not a | | | | conveyor then it is a best practice to read and |
| toy. Riding, sitting, or leaning on production conveyors | | | | review as many conveyor manuals and articles |
| is never recommended. Any type of action that | | | | related to safety. |
| overloads the conveyor or uses it out side of its | | | | |