Are Conveyors a Hazard?
Are conveyors a hazard? Conveyor systems come in many shapes and sizes. The make up of a conveyor system is determined by the functions that the system is required to perform, and the product that needs to be handled. When designing a conveyor system, a variety of hazards can be introduced into a system if the system is designed poorly. There are two main factors to consider when designing a conveyor system, to reduce potential conveyor hazards.
- The individual elements used to build the system are safe. For example, the conveyor modules used in the system have been designed in such a way as to not introduce hazards, such as trapping points. Each conveyor module must be suitable for operation in close proximity to operators. Each element of a conveyor system must have a UKCA (formerly CE) certificate of incorporation from the original equipment manufacturer or supplier, this states that the individual element has been designed and made to current industrial standards for that type of equipment.
- The system as a whole does not introduce hazards by bringing individual elements of equipment together. For example, a belt conveyor running by itself may not present any hazards, the conveyor could be fully guarded and its stand-alone operation may not present hazards to operators. However, installing the belt conveyor end-to-end next to a roller conveyor could present a significant trapping point where the two conveyors meet. The belt of the belt conveyor could drag an operators hand into the gap between the two conveyors, causing serious injury. To avoid this particular hazard, an infill plate can be used to guard the potential trapping hazard. Or a pop-out idle roller could be used to bridge the gap between the two conveyors, if an operators hand gets dragged in between the conveyors, the idle roller would pop out creating sufficient gap to remove the trapping point. This is just one example of hazards that can be introduced by bringing elements of a system together. North Conveyors Ltd will provide a UKCA declaration of conformity with any installed conveyor system, this declares that all hazards have been removed from the design of the system (where possible) through design risk assessments, and that the system has been designed in-line with current standards.
So, are conveyors a hazard? The short answer is no, not if the system has been designed and risk assessed in the correct way.
North Conveyors Ltd – Directory – North East England Chamber of Commerce (neechamber.co.uk)