10 Mar Conveyor Safety

Conveyor Safety

Conveyors reduce manual material handling and can help prevent lifting and carrying injuries while improving productivity. However, their smooth and continuous operation can create a false sense of security. Moving belts, rollers, pulleys, chains, and loads can cause serious caught-in, caught-between, entanglement, and struck-by injuries.

General Conveyor Safety

Conveyors come in many designs and are intended for specific applications. Employees must be trained and authorized before operating conveyor equipment.

• Use conveyors only for their intended purpose.
• Never ride, sit, stand, or walk on a conveyor unless specifically designed and approved for personnel.
• Never climb over or crawl underneath a conveyor except at an approved crossover or passageway.
• Stay clear of moving belts, rollers, chains, sprockets, pulleys, and other moving components.
• Know the location and operation of emergency-stop devices.
• Report unsafe conditions, damaged equipment, or malfunctions immediately.

Guarding and Pinch Points

Conveyors contain numerous nip and pinch points where hands, clothing, or other body parts can become caught.

• Keep all required guards and barriers in place.
• Never reach around, through, over, or underneath a guard.
• Never remove, bypass, or defeat guards or safety devices.
• Keep hands away from rollers, pulleys, belts, chains, and transfer points.
• Report missing or damaged guards immediately.
• Do not operate a conveyor until required safeguards are properly installed.

Loose clothing, jewelry, rings, and long hair can become entangled in moving equipment. Secure long hair, remove loose jewelry, and wear clothing appropriate for the work.

Loading and Unloading

Loading and discharge areas can create additional pinch and struck-by hazards.

• Position materials so they remain stable while traveling on the conveyor.
• Do not overload the conveyor.
• Keep hands and fingers away from moving materials and conveyor components.
• Do not attempt to straighten, reposition, or retrieve material where doing so could place you in contact with moving equipment.
• Use appropriate tools or mechanical devices when provided.
• Stay alert for shifting, falling, or unexpectedly moving materials.

Emergency Stops and Startup

Employees working around conveyors should know how to stop the equipment during an emergency.

• Keep emergency-stop buttons, pull cords, and other stopping devices accessible.
• Never disable or bypass an emergency-stop device.
• Before starting or restarting a conveyor, make sure employees are clear of hazardous areas.
• Follow established startup warning procedures.
• Do not restart equipment following an emergency stop until the cause has been identified and it is safe to resume operation.

Cleaning, Jams, and Maintenance

Never clean, adjust, lubricate, repair, service, or clear a jam while hazardous conveyor movement is possible.

Before servicing a conveyor:

1. Stop the equipment.
2. Isolate all hazardous energy sources.
3. Apply required lockout/tagout devices.
4. Block or restrain components that could move because of gravity or stored energy.
5. Verify that hazardous energy has been controlled before beginning work.

Only authorized employees may perform lockout/tagout. Guards must be replaced before the conveyor is returned to service.

Cleaning moving belts, drums, rollers, or other hazardous components should not be performed unless an established procedure provides effective protection from all moving parts and pinch points.

Overhead Conveyors

Overhead conveyors may expose employees to falling materials or moving carriers.

• Protect areas below conveyors where falling materials could strike employees.
• Secure materials against falling or shifting.
• Stay clear of moving hooks, carriers, and suspended materials.
• Do not stand or work beneath unsecured loads.
• Use guards, screens, catch platforms, barricades, or other appropriate protection where required.

Safe Conveyor Crossings

Never take a shortcut across a conveyor.

Use only designated:

• Crossovers.
• Walkways.
• Stairs.
• Platforms.
• Underpasses or other approved passageways.

Keep designated crossings and access routes clear and in good condition.

Stay Alert

The repetitive and predictable movement of a conveyor can cause workers to become complacent. Conditions can change quickly when materials jam, shift, fall, or become caught.

Never place your hands or body into a hazardous area simply because the conveyor appears to be moving normally. If something does not look or sound right, stop the equipment and report the condition.

Remember

Conveyors make material handling easier, but their moving components can cause severe injuries in seconds. Keep guards in place, stay away from pinch points, use approved crossings, never ride conveyors, and follow lockout/tagout procedures before servicing or clearing jams.