What are the Typical Conveyor Hazard Points?

Source from: http://www.cisco-eagle.com/systems/conveyors/Conveyor-Safety/default.htm

According to FFVA Mutual Insurance Company, the top hazard points for conveyors are:
-Power transmissions
-Nip points
-Shear points
-Pinch points
-Spill points
-Areas under counterweights
-Transfer counterweights
-Transfer mechanisms
-Passage areas under conveyor
-Under special circumstances

How do you address these specific areas of concern?
Guards - Guards constitute one of the more common types of safety devices used for the protection of conveyors. Guards are coverings or barricades provided for safety purposes, such as gears, chains, or nip point guards.

Operation and Maintenance of Guards - It is the owner’s responsibility to see that his conveyor/conveyor system is never operated unless the guarding provided is in place. Also, that all guards be maintained in a safe condition and warning signs be kept in legible condition.

Power Transmission - The need for power transmission equipment is common to all types of powered conveyors involving items such as drives, gears, shafts, couplings, etc. Conveyor equipment must be carefully examined by the owners to assure that guarding is provided for all exposed power transmission equipment to protect their operators and others in the work area from accidental contact. Typical items to be observed include:

• Drive Guards for chain, v-belt, and gearing must be both practical and durable. Guards can be constructed of expanded metal, perforated or solid sheet metal, sire mesh, plastic, or other materials securely fastened to the conveyor framework.
• Coupling Guards must be provided around all direct connections between motors and gearboxes when couplings are used to connect shafts.
• Line Shaft Guards – Line shaft drives are still utilized on some types of conveyors to distribute power to the conveying mechanisms. Care should be taken in their location to prevent fingers, aprons, strings, or hair entering the line shaft guard.
• End Shaft Guards – The protruding ends of rotating shafts or keyed shafts are particularly dangerous. Plastic end caps can be used to enclose ends to prevent items from becoming caught in shafts.

Nip Points - “Nip Point” by definition is that point at which an element of the conveyor machinery moving in a line or rotating meets another element which is either rotating or moving in a line in such a manner that it is possible to nip, pinch, squeeze, or entrap objects coming in contact with one of the two elements.

Guarding Under Special Circumstances - All exposed, moving parts of a conveyor which present a hazard to employees at their workstation should be mechanically or electrically guarded or guarded by position or location. Ease of access or approach to conveying equipment is essential to assure proper and continuous usage. To assure an accessible and safe conveyor operation requires understanding between the design/manufacturer and safety training by the owner.

• Providing a safe working place involving conveyors also requires consideration of electrical controls. Companies that use powered conveyors should make reference to these sections of the Safety Standards regarding conveyor guarding using electrical controls and stop switches for safety.

According to FFVA Mutual, the majority of conveyor accidents are a direct result of an original design or implementation error. Conveyor safety is generally considered as a part of general safety. The practices described in this article may not give sufficient attention to the nuances required to provide a safe conveyor system. The responsibility for the planning, design and implementation of a conveyor system is often fragmented, lacking central responsibility. Attention to these details at the very beginning of the conveyor purchasing process can result in enhanced safety in your facility.