Safety Precautions When Using Conveyor Belts

These belts are normally to be found in large scale factories, big warehouses and public transportation centers. However, the usage of conveyors is not just restricted to factories. Today, pizza shops and bakeries frequently employ slow-moving wire conveyance belts in moving their products through their ovens.

Airports use them to deliver baggage to their landing customers in the waiting bay. Many grocery stores are using to bring items to the check-out clerks. Warehouses use them for loading outgoing trucks and for offloading their incoming ones.

Safety Concerns

Just like with any motorized and electrical appliance, conveyors could present some serious safety concerns. Given that conveyors have got lots of moving parts, whenever you are working on, near, or about the belts you ought to be well versed in their safety. It's very important that you should never climb, stand, walk, sit, ride or even dare to touch the conveyor belt at any time when it is in motion.

In Australia for instance, the safe usage of conveyance systems is given prominence under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 (OSH Act) and the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 (OSH Regulations).

Maintenance

You must not undertake any performance maintenance on the belts until all the electrical, hydraulic, air, and even gravity sources of energy have been blocked or locked out. You should not even try to open any guard or panel until everything has been stopped completely.

Training on safety issues should be done to all who use the belts and repeated frequently. In case of a jam, anybody who is not properly trained should avoid trying to do the clearing and instead should call in the facility maintenance crew to clear the jam.

Protective Gear and Guards

You should only operate this equipment with all the approved guards and covers in place. Plant workers are from time to time known to remove them for maintenance, or since they are seem to be obstructing someone's access doing their work. This exposes you to machinery, chains gears, and other moving parts which could be extremely dangerous.

It is vital that you and all other workers keep hands off of moving conveyors. Persons having loose clothes, long hair, or ties ought to be extremely careful. Any visitor to your plant must be appropriately briefed on all safety aspects before being allowed to get near the conveyor line.

Loading the Belt

It is vital that no loading takes place when your conveying equipment has stopped. This could be dangerous and exposes you to danger once the belt starts to move.

The Council of the Standards Association of Australia under AS 1755-1986 on Conveyors Design and Fabrication gives further guidance on their safe usage. The Standards stress on the importance of making sure that everybody is clear of the equipment before you start it.

Operating the Apparatus

Australian Standard, AS 1755 Conveyors -- Safety requirements stress that only workers who have received training should be allowed to operate and carry out maintenance on conveyors. This is because conveyors could be dangerous to persons who do not comprehensively understand the apparatus and it safety requirements.

Belt Controls

These controls that operate the belt must never be modified by unqualified personnel. You must always monitor your various belt controls to ensure that nobody has modified, misused, or disconnected them.


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Jurgen is a plant worker at Robotunits where he is in charge of customer safety. Robotunits are professionals in plant equipment installation and maintenance. When you visit, Jurgen will take you through belt safety procedures visit http://www.robotunits.com.au .