Maintaining Safety around Conveyors and Feeders

Maintaining Safety around Conveyors and Feeders with proper guarding and work practices is an important OHS issue within the extractive industry. Below is an extract from the CMPA’s Work Safely Reference Manual regarding FIXED PLANT – CONVEYORS AND FEEDERS.

A requirement of operating any mobile or fixed processing equipment is to ensure that the General Safety Checks are carried out prior to operation, during processing and at the end of production. (Refer to the Crushing/Screening Reporting and Inspection Book put together by the CPMA with assistance from Members) This will ensure that the equipment is in a safe working order to operate.

Conveyors can be started automatically or manually. Where conveyors can start automatically, a pre start siren should be present which will sound and a flashing light in view of the personnel working will flash before the conveyor starts. This will give enough time for personnel to promptly stand clear before the conveyor operates.

Manually operated conveyors must not be started until the Supervisor confirms everything is ready and the plant has been inspected to ensure people and plant are secure and prepared for the start.

Some controls that may be used include:

• All accessible conveyor sides should be fitted with emergency lanyard switches
• Obey all safety signs in the area
• Know the location of lanyards, lock out, emergency stop and other devices
• Never start without first checking all persons and plant are secure and approval has been given by your Supervisor
• Only operate a conveyor with all guards fitted and lanyards operating
• Keep access ways around conveyors clear of debris to prevent tripping
• If a conveyor stops without obvious cause, always check lanyard cables, conveyor belts, transfer points and motor drives before resetting lanyard switch
• No person should ride on or step over a moving conveyor belt or belt in service
• Do not perform maintenance on conveyors unless they have been isolated
• Never use any implements on moving belts/drums (i.e. trying to clean mud off tail drums)
• Never put your hand under the belt or near nip points (i.e. trying to place dirt on tail drum to adjust belt tracking)
• Always use a ‘Danger Tag’ and lock the isolator in the ‘Off ’ position
• Never remove guards from conveyors whilst running
• Never enter any guarded area around operating conveyors
• Do not open electrical control panels and keep water away from control panels
• Advise your Supervisor whenever a potential nip point is observed (i.e. unguarded v-belts, return roller assemblies)
• Contact your Supervisor for any adjustment of tail drums
• Report any faults to your Supervisor (i.e. spillage, worn impact points, damaged conveyor belts, seized rollers).

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