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Manufacturing Safety Matters

Are You Following These Essential Conveyor Belt Safety Procedures?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) frequently cites conveyor belt accidents as one of the top preventable accidents in the workplace. Yet, they occur all too often when employees do not think before they act or fail to use caution. 

A recent news story underscores just how serious these accidents can be. Workers at a paper corporation were removing wood and bark chips from underneath a moving conveyor belt and shoveling them back onto the conveyor. When an employee went into a narrow opening to remove bark that had accumulated under the belt, his shovel became lodged between a roller and the underside of the moving conveyor, pulling him into the machinery. As a result, the worker suffered fatal injuries. 

This is an example of an accident that could have been prevented by exercising conveyor belt safety. To help ensure safe conveyor belt operation in your workplace, familiarize yourself with the following safety tips.

Before You Start a Conveyor:

• Inspect the area to ensure no one is performing maintenance, is under the conveyor or within the fall zone.
• Ensure all guards are fitted and the emergency stop switch is working properly.
  

When Working at or Near a Conveyor:

• Wear a hat and safety shoes. Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothes or jewelry and make sure that your hair is short or pulled back.
• Do not walk under a moving conveyor.
• Never clean belts, pulleys or drums while the machine is on.
• Do not perform maintenance or repairs while the conveyor is in motion.

When Working at a Powered Conveyor:

• Ensure that you can see the system while you are operating the controls.
• Follow all lockout and tagout procedures before performing maintenance.
• Position yourself so that you will not be hit by moving objects.
  

When Working With an Aerial Conveyor:

• Make sure that machine guards are in place to protect against objects falling on workers below. 

General Safety Recommendations:

• Always know the location of start and stop controls.
• Never step, climb, sit or ride on a conveyor belt.
• Never alter or remove machine guards.
• Never overload a conveyor outside of its design limits.
• Always report unsafe practices to your supervisor.

Learn More About Workplace Safety

Maintaining a safe work environment can help you optimize productivity and control overall costs. To learn more about on-the-job safety, talk to the workplace safety professional at VTC Insurance Group. You can reach us at 248.828.3377 or visit vtcins.com.

This blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice.