While working in a factory it is not necessary that a maintenance technician will be around you all the time. There are various components of the conveyor belts that need to be taken care of. Besides looking for the security of men at work, a technician needs to inspect the equipment too. So it becomes the responsibility of men at work to adopt various measures to be safe while working around the conveyor belts.
Conveyor systems are huge belt systems that have many interdependent components attached to it. Breakdown of one part may result in malfunctioning of the whole system. Besides taking care of these systems, it is important to be careful and safe when working with the belt systems.
Here are some tips that ought to be followed while working around the conveyor belts to ensure the safety of labor force and the equipment as well. Read on.
Proper Training:
As per the safety standards, it is requisite on the part of workers to have the proper training to operate particular equipment. No matter if you are a professional, fresher or an existing worker, it is mandatory for all men at work to undergo training to reduce the chances of safety risks. Training not only ensures the safety of the employees but also makes it easier for them to work onsite.
Not only this, it is equally important to stay updated with new safety regulations, policies and procedures. Further, untrained staff or workers should be strictly refrained from working around conveyor systems.
Know the Conveyor Systems you will be working on:
There are various types of conveyors available in the market. No doubt they work on similar principles, yet they have differential potential hazards. So it becomes necessary to familiarize yourself with the type and design of the conveyor you will be operating. Make sure you read the user guide of the belt systems and follow all the necessary instructions pertaining to the conveyor systems.
Be Attentive and Cautious:
While working on the conveyors, you need to keep your focus entirely on the processing and working of the systems. As a minute issue may be dangerous and cause serious problems. Be attentive to all those issues that may be hazardous and pose serious threats. Regular checks should be carried out by all the operators and wherever necessary a service team should be called for assistance.
Avoid Over-tensioning and Overloading:
It is advisable not to overload the conveyor belts as this may result in spillages or may ruin the pulley systems and couplings. A normal tension to be applied on belt system ranges from 0.4% to 0.7%. Over-tensioning or overloading the conveyor belts may result in heating of the equipment, causing it to function abruptly.
Regular Checks:
A regular check of conveyor systems by technicians and experts helps in identifying the probable areas of problems and aids in correcting them timely. Take necessary steps to facilitate routine checkups of the various components of conveyor belts so as to avoid disruptions in manufacturing and processing process. You can also refer to the checklists for the preventive maintenance of the conveyor systems.
There may be some issues that may not be revealed through routine checks. Hence it is recommended to get the systems investigated by the experts too.
