Minimise Workplace Accidents And Injuries with These Conveyor Belt Safety TIps
If you run a factory, an airport or any other facility with a conveyor belt or other conveyor components on site, you have to be aware of the risks of accidents and injuries. Luckily, you can minimise injuries and keep your facility safe with some attention to basic safety concepts. To enhance your workplace safety, here are seven safety tips you should consider implementing:
1. Have all conveyor belts professionally installed
Unless you are trained and experienced in conveyor belt installation, you should always pay a professional to install your conveyor belts and products. These professionals can ensure that everything is attached correctly, minimising the risk of things falling apart. They can also assess the need for extra safety measures such as bolting the equipment to the floor or covering particularly dangerous areas with guards.
2. Do not exceed capacity
When using your conveyor belt, use it according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Do not overload it, as exceeding its recommended capacity may put the equipment under too much strain, causing the belt to snap, hardware to break or other accidents to occur.
3. Draw a chalk line down the center of the belt
When you have a conveyor belt, a simple way to ensure it is in line and working correctly is by drawing a chalk line down the center of the belt. A chalk line is easy to make and doesn't damage the belt. It also conveniently alerts workers and supervisors if the belt is ever out of line. If it is, they can simply stop the machine and call a professional who deals with conveyor solutions and repairs.
4. Train employees on best safety protocols
In addition to training your employees to keep an eye on the chalk line in the center of the belt, you also need to train your employees on other safety protocols. Anyone who uses the conveyor or related products should understand exactly how these machines work and what could compromise their integrity. Employees who work near but not with the conveyor belt should understand when they can and cannot approach it.
5. Use stickers and warning horns
To remind workers of safety issues, consider using safety stickers, magnets or warning labels around your conveyor products. Safety stickers and magnets can warn employees and facility visitors about electrical shock risks, where their hands may get pinched or how close they can get to the machine.
If you want to incorporate a warning horn, many conveyor owners find this safety element to be essential. Basically, it blasts every time you turn on the conveyor. As a result, everyone knows to move away from the belt. With a warning horn, you don't run the risk that someone may be sitting on the belt and get injured once it starts – obviously, not sitting on the belt at any time is one of the safety rules your employees should learn, but a warning horn can add an additional layer of safety to their training.
6. Learn basic maintenance techniques
If you want to keep your conveyor safe, you need to understand a few basic maintenance rules. For example, you should know how to keep the conveyor reducer oiled. If this part is not oiled, it may stick, causing the conveyor to malfunction or stutter instead of running smoothly.
7. Increase horsepower with speed
You also need to know how to run your conveyor correctly and safely. This is especially important when it come to issues such as speed. Increasing the speed of your conveyor can make it more dangerous for your employees as they have to work faster and mind the conveyor.
However, in many cases increasing speed increases productivity. Unfortunately, you cannot just increase the speed no matter what. In most cases, you also need to increase the horsepower so the machine's motor can keep up with the shift in speed.
Understanding basic conveyor safety rules like these can protect your conveyor belt and your employees.
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