Safety Tips For Working Around Industrial Conveyor Systems
If your manufacturing business has grown large enough that you have decided to install an industrial conveyor system to move your heavy shipping boxes out to your loading dock, then it is important that your staff members know how to safely operate it. Safe conveyor system use will reduce industrial injury claims against your workman's compensation insurance policy and protects your employees from serious injuries.
Here are some important safety tips everyone in your warehouse needs to know about working with, and near, industrial conveyor systems:
Tip: Don't Place Boxes on a Stopped Conveyor Belt
To keep your conveyor system working well and safe for your employees, never load boxes onto it while the belt is stopped. This practice can overload the belt and will lead to premature mechanical failures. Additionally, it can also cause boxes to fall off when the conveyor starts, and the falling boxes can injure your employees.
Tip: Make Sure Everyone Is Clear of the Conveyor System When It Is Started
For everyone's safety in your warehouse, no one should be near the conveyor system when it is started. If you have only a few employees, then it is a good practice to have them gather in one spot while starting up your conveyor. This will ensure that everyone is safely away from the system's moving parts. If you have many employees who work along a long conveyor system, then you should have a warning horn that you sound each time you start the system from its stopped state.
Tip: Never Remove Any Covers or Guards from the Conveyor System
You might be surprised to learn that many people are injured each year because they have removed safety covers or guards from their conveyor system. For the safety of everyone who works with your new conveyor, never remove any of the factory-installed safety guards or covers. The manufacturer put them in place for a logical reason and removing them puts your employees at risk of injury.
Tip: Turn Off All Vital Systems Before Retrieving Fallen Boxes
Finally, if a box becomes trapped in the mechanical workings of your industrial conveyor system, then it is vital that all of its various systems are disabled so you can safely retrieve the package. These systems include:
- electrical power
- gravity feeds
- hydraulics
By disabling all of these systems, then you can safely retrieve boxes and perform other basic maintenance on the conveyor system. To learn more, contact a company like Queen City Material Handling Equipment.
