Over fifty workplace fatalities a year occur where conveyors are the primary source of injury, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. Workplace injuries account for nearly 25% of all workers' compensation claims and up to 35% of all associated costs.
Ed Stairman, president of online equipment distributor A Plus Warehouse (Lynn, Mass.) offers these conveyor safety tips that can save time, money and most importantly, keep employees safe.
1. Inspect conveyors on a regular basis. Contact the manufacturer or an outside engineering firm who is certified to inspect the conveyors and employs an all-inclusive checklist. In addition, plant managers and operators should conduct regular inspections on a weekly or monthly schedule.
2. Netting or other protective guarding should be installed to protect against falling products, especially in areas where employees or pedestrians may be walking.
3. Climbing on or over conveyors must be prohibited. If employees must cross over a conveyor, stairs and railing should be constructed or a section of the conveyor must fold up to accommodate safe access.
4. Install an emergency shutoff device to prevent back-ups, over-stacking and falling product at the ends of conveyors.
5. Post safety signage and install alarms and warning lights to alert employees when the system starts and stops. Confirm that all emergency controls are fully functional.