Best Practices for Conveyor Safety

Conveyors are critical machinery in many manufacturing plants and cotton mills, but while they ensure materials and supplies move seamlessly throughout a facility, they can be dangerous and lead to severe injuries. These are some best safety practices for conveyors to keep everyone as safe as possible:

• Only allow authorized personnel to operate the conveyor: Our first tip for conveyor safety is to only let trained personnel near the conveyor. Even if they’re moving slowly, conveyors can sever limbs if employees aren’t sure how to use them. Additionally, make sure you only hire trained maintenance experts to fix a broken conveyor.
• Wear the right gear: Conveyors can catch loose clothing and rip them off in a second. Ensure all employees have their shirts tucked in and aren’t wearing baggy pants or jewelry. Depending on the facility, all employees may also need to be wearing hard hats while at work.
• Never stand, sit or walk on conveyors: It should go without saying that a conveyor isn’t a toy. Even if it’s not in motion, never allow workers to walk, stand or sit on a conveyor. Doing so could lead to a nasty fall or catch someone’s limb in a pinch point.
• Make sure conveyor controls are working: All of the controls—especially the emergency stop buttons—should be inspected regularly to make sure they’re fully functional. As part of your employee training, make sure all employees know where the controls are located and how they’re operated.
• Ensure all guards are in place: Conveyor guards are critical aspects of conveyor safety. Employees shouldn’t be able to bypass or remove any of the safety guards, especially while the conveyor is on. You’ll also want to make sure the guard openings are small enough to keep workers out of any danger zones.
• Watch out for pinch points: The pinch points we mentioned above are some of the most dangerous areas on a conveyor. All employees should be aware of these pinch points and keep their distance while the conveyor is running. Even with the guards up, accidents can happen near these areas.
• Alert supervisors of safety hazards: There should always be a designated supervisor onsite who’s in charge of employee safety. This supervisor should be notified immediately if a guard is broken or some aspect of the conveyor is malfunctioning.
• Follow lockout procedures: A lockout system prevents the system from turning on while it’s undergoing maintenance or repairs. Before working on the conveyor, double-check that your lockout procedures are in place and that everyone knows what these procedures entail.

Get expert help with your conveyor

Knowing some best safety practices for conveyors is crucial in keeping your employees safe on the job, but it’s also important to know which team to trust when it comes to buying conveyor components. The answer is M.B. McKee Company, Inc. We deliver anywhere within a 200-mile radius, and our in-house engineers can help design and rebuild your conveyor system. Contact us today to see what we can do for you.

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