Conveyor Systems: Control Measures to Minimise Worker Injury in Your Operation
Conveyor systems are essential for numerous industrial and commercial operations, including processing, production, warehousing and retail setups. These material-handling machines ensure that bulky goods are moved within the premises with ease and safety. If you install this system in your business, the productivity of your operations will increase due to the efficiency of material movement. Moreover, the workers will be safer because they will not need to handle heavy goods manually. On the other hand, you should note that conveyor systems, like other industrial machines, pose significant danger to the users. Therefore, if you have recently installed a conveyor in your business, consider using the below-outlined measures to reduce the risk of worker injury.
Provision of Guarding
You should install conveyor guarding around your new system to control direct contact between the machine and the workers. In simple terms, a conveyor has numerous moving components which will trap and damage any object, including worker body parts, that comes into contact with them. Therefore, you should ensure that there is a physical guard to prevent such unfortunate occurrences. Ideally, you should install fixed guarding or permanent barriers around the conveyor. This type of safety structure can only be removed and modified by a qualified technician. However, if this is not a viable solution for your setup, you can place temporary interlocking guards. To learn more about conveyor guarding, contact a company like ESS Engineering.
Training of Employees
You should educate and train your workers on the correct usage of the new conveyor system. Also, you should make sure that they are aware of the potential danger of the machinery. If the employees understand the risks and consequences of bad practices, they will be more cautious. Consequently, the workplace will be safer. For example, the workers should know the hazards associated with practices such as impact loading and overloading the conveyor belting. In addition, they should be informed of the risk of wearing loose clothing and leaving long hair hanging. Simple informational training sessions can protect your workers, preventing injuries and subsequent legal and financial problems for your business.
Installation of Emergency Measures
Finally, you should remember that conveyor dangers cannot be completely eliminated, even after the installation of guarding and training of workers. You should prepare for the occurrence of an accident during the operation of the machinery by installing some emergency measures. In general, there should be a prominent stop button to halt the movement of the conveyor if a worker is trapped or in distress. It is also advisable to install siren alarms and flashing lights to warn the employees of danger.