March 2, 2020 Safety Tip of the Week delivered to your inbox each Monday by GrainnetSafety.com
Conveyor Hazards
Conveyors are used in many industries to transport materials horizontally, vertically, at an angle, or around curves. Types of conveyors may include powered, live roller, screw, drag, and belt conveyors, to name a few.
Conveyor-related injuries typically involve a worker's hands or fingers becoming caught in nip-points or shear points during cleaning, freeing jammed material, or a worker's clothing becoming caught in the conveyor, which pulls the employee into the conveyor.
Conveyor-related injuries can also be caused by improperly guarded gears, sprockets and chain drives, and horizontal or vertical shafts, belts and pulleys, and power transmission couplings.
Workers can also be injured or killed underneath conveyors and in areas around lubrication fittings, tension adjusters, and other equipment with hazardous energy sources.
Belt conveyor drives mechanisms, conveyance-related equipment, and the following belt conveyor areas are considered hazardous:
The conveyor take-up and discharge ends
Where the belt or chain enters or exits and in in-going nip point
Where belt wraps around pulleys
Snub rollers where the belt changes direction, such as take-ups
Where multiple conveyors are adjoined
On transfer or deflectors used with belt conveyors
Hazards associated with nip and shear points must be guarded. Side guards can be installed to prevent employee contract with power transmission components, in-going nip points, and the conveying medium.
Secondary safeguarding methods may include the use of standard railings or barrier fencing, pre-startup signals, and warning signs.
