Conveyor belt hazards are hazards associated with the use of the conveyor belt.
Recall that a conveyor belt is a belt that has been looped and is wound around one or more pulleys for driving. The conveyor belt is supported by rollers or a metal plate bed and is driven by an electric motor. There is an idler pulley that is not driven and a driving pulley that drives a conveyor belt.
On a conveyor belt, pulley drives at the infeed end are called tail drives, and those at the discharge end are called head drives.
There are two (2) types of conveyor belt:
- Roller Bed Conveyor Belt: The surface of a roller bed conveyor belt consists of a set of rollers chosen to meet the needs of production requirements, such as speed, weight, and the type of products being moved.
- Flat Belt Conveyor Belt: A flat belt conveyor belt uses a series of pulleys to move materials and supplies. Its belt is made of natural or synthetic materials; this makes it versatile and adaptable to varying conditions and applications.
Conveyor Belt Hazards
- Shear points: A shear point occurs when the edges of two machine parts move across or close enough to each other to cut a relatively soft material. Shear points are a potential hazard when using conveyors in any environment.
- Pinch points: Pinch point means any point other than the point of operation at which it is possible for a part of the body to be caught between the moving parts of a press or auxiliary equipment, or between moving and stationary parts of a press or auxiliary equipment. There are numerous pinch points around the conveyor belt which you should pay attention to.
- Spills and falling materials: When material builds up on the path beneath the conveyor, spilling of material also makes slipping more likely. Idlers, structural supports, and conveyor parts may become buried by fugitive material, resulting in expensive labor clean-ups and replacement parts.
- Power transmission interfaces, such as drives or shafts:
- Entanglement with Clothing, Hair, or Body Part: This occurs when a loose piece of jewelry, clothing, or hair gets trapped in a moving part of the machine. This sort of accident can be fatal so it is therefore important to have some sort of defence should this occur.
- Misalignment or Jamming of Rotating Components: Misalignment or jamming of spinning components is a potential hazard while dealing with conveyor systems; therefore, it is crucial to constantly verify correct alignment before system startup, utilizing visual inspections wherever feasible instead of physical probing.
- Crushing and Entrapment of Objects: A crushing and entrapment hazard is a “caught-in” hazard, the danger to the worker rests in being caught between two objects. Where either one or both parts may be moving, and cause injury or death by physical crushing, pulling you in, or suffocation
- Electrical Hazards: Typically, conveyor systems include motors, sensors, and other electrical parts. If these parts are not installed and maintained correctly, there is a risk of electrical shock or electrocution.
- Fire or Explosion Hazards: Conveyor fires are mostly started by heat generated by friction, however, there may be several underlying reasons. Common sources include seized parts like bearings, brakes, and rollers, which are frequently made worse by fugitive debris that acts as an abrasive.
Conveyor Belt Safety Tips
Here are some safety tips you should follow when working with a conveyor belt;
- Wear a hard hat and safety shoes.
- Tie back (and tuck in) long hair.
- Know the location of the emergency “shut-off” devices and how to use them.
- Make sure all safeguards and guards including cages, barriers, guardrails, warning signals, and other safety devices that are required are in place and operational.
- Know how to work near machinery safely.
- Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry.
- Do not climb, step, sit, or ride on the conveyors.
- Do not alter or remove guards or safety devices.
- Do not try to remove stuck items or debris until the conveyor is locked out.
- Do not service the conveyor without following lock-out procedures.
Conclusion
Knowing the Conveyor Belt Hazards is the first point of call if you must work safely around a conveyor belt. In this blog post, we have highlighted major hazards associated with the use of conveyor belts and some precautions to follow.
Follow these precautions to stay safe when working with or around a conveyor belt.
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