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You can never be too careful in the workplace. In any factory setting or location where heavy machinery operates there is the very real risk of injury and malfunction. Managed by humans, sometimes mistakes can be made and oversights will happen. Regardless if it is by accident or careless actions, the consequences for not paying attention while on the job can be deadly. One of the most dangerous occupations of the work place is employee conveyor engagement. The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics has noted that well over fifty deaths take place a year as a result of conveyor negligence or mishap.

Although conveyors can be great efficiency boosters and cost saving mechanisms, when implemented improperly they at times can do more harm then good. As workers compensation claims become more burdensome and insurance costs unfold at steeper rates, it is now more important then ever to take workplace safety seriously. By looking at some of the common safety rules and reviewing the more dangerous parts of the conveyor we might be able to establish a better fundamental understanding of how to cut down on workplace mishaps.

Rules are not meant to be broken in the land of conveyor systems. One cautionary note that should not be forgotten is to make certain the machinery is turned off and disconnected prior to the performance of any maintenance. When the need to service your system arises, use only thoroughly trained personnel who are expert in what they are working on. This is not the place for trainees or the merely curious. Another simple but necessary precaution is to remove all loose objects from around the machine. This also includes things like hair, baggy clothing, jewelry or whatever to avoid any tangling with the machinery.

A conveyor is no plaything and using it as such by riding, sitting or leaning up against a production conveyor is never a good idea. Any unintended use of the conveyor or overloading it is always prohibited. The only people who should be allowed to operate the system must be authorized employees. Safety guards and protectors must be in place and not tampered with and all obstructions removed from them before the system is turned on. Conveyors are intricate working machineries and very powerful. This power must never be taken for granted or underestimated. Now let’s review the really dangerous and powerful aspects of this marvel of efficiency.

The machinery in a conveyor system is exposed which brings concern to lots of areas. Some of the riskiest areas are the power transmission, the guard joints and transfer mechanisms. Others include the “squeeze” or “nip” joints. These terms refer to any conjunction of moving parts which may lead to breaks or alterations in the system and give rise to opportunities for items to stick or snag. Troublesome spots may occur anywhere things can spill, jam, pinch or shear. Blind spots and dead spaces are also worrisome.

Awareness and caution are ultimately some of the best policies when working on or around your system. Any piece of the machine that poses potential harm should be marked by a sign and protected by guard or barrier. Regardless of what you use your assembly for, it is crucial to take every measure possible to protect the workers responsible for maintaining the belts, drives and processes.

Any employee misconduct must be reported to supervisors. This must be gotten across to all employees who are often reluctant to tattle on their fellows. Nothing, not a job relationship, or fear of creating hostile feelings, is worth an accident that could very well cause loss of life or limb. If you have anything to do with conveyors in your place of business, you must read all the safety manuals and directives you can that are related to your particular setup.

Visit Wilkie Brothers Coveyors for more information on conveyors or to order Cignys Conveyor Chain, Midwest Pusher Dogs or any other related replacement parts.

We often cruise through life performing our daily routines without giving much thought to improving performance. Simple tasks like brushing our teeth, showering, getting to work and cooking are often times put on auto pilot with little attention paid to the actual undertaking. When things run smoothly, humans have a tendency towards contentment. Many endeavors that are repetitive by nature or jaded by low variances are many times left alone to carry out as they have done numerous times before. One critical component to success however is a constant fine tuning and practicing of the associated craft. Maintaining a competitive edge is never about resting on our laurels. Those satisfied with the outputs of today are frequently passed by those hungry for a better tomorrow. One aspect of life where many of these concepts are applicable revolves around the installation and implementation of a conveyor system.

Conveyors have been around for ages and are rightfully considered industrial marvels. To get the most from your conveyor system, you must be ready and able to put in the time and physical and intellectual energy required to understand it and know it well. Conveyors are just machines that will work on auto pilot, but they may not know that they are operating in an ever changing and stressful environment that can bring disastrous rather than productive results. For those with a competitive spirit, there are some disciplines to follow that will build a more viable and stronger platform. If your goal is to optimize your conveyor systems productivity and operations, then the following bits of advice are for you. Some steps in this will be easier than others and the tips we will focus on first fall into the easier domain We will build up to the more difficult steps from there.

Managers should first pay attention in their review to the details of the items being moved along the line. A thorough comprehension of conveyor loads is one simple but powerful means to enhance performance. Take into consideration things such as load form, shape, dimension, density, flow rate and position. All of these characteristics are vital to the success of product movement. If you know everything there is to know about the items traveling on your system, you will much more capable of designing and controlling your operation to be more efficient and powerful. Another tip that is relatively simple but very important is to perform proper maintenance and have the know how to fix common problems.

As a large moving machine conveyors often run into snags. Some of the basic stumbling blocks can be avoided through general guidelines for trouble shooting certain faults. Hiccups like random shutdowns, package backup and frozen belts all may be solved without the need to call in repair experts and expensive service technicians. Informed problem diagnosis is a huge benefit to the smooth functioning of any set up as it allows for fixes that may otherwise be prolonged or outsourced thus thwarting current productivity.

Lastly, diligent maintenance is key when it comes to enhancing optimization. Stay on top of all conveyor related items and focus intently on preventive maintenance. Both will be sure to offer a more fluid environment. Now we will progress into the more difficult tasks at hand.

Conveyors eat up energy. There are some energy saving devices available to streamline movement, but a large amount of room to grow in this area still exists. Some ways to capture energy efficiency is by proper motor selection, lubrication, downtime, drive reduction and gravity leveraging. Reduction in energy can be difficult to pull off, but putting resources toward efficiency can result in huge savings and a better facility. Ergonomics in production is another more intensive angle that may be taken to optimize production. A happier and healthier workplace may be had through optimal vertical and horizontal integration along with ergonomically designed employee workstations.

Attention to conveyor workstation architecture can play a major role in improving the system. The height of a work surface and station reach arrangements are areas in ergonomics that if properly configured can add much to productivity. Conveyor performance testing is mandatory for quality improvement. Routine inspection and testing should be administered to function checking, load analysis and error recovery tests. The administration of tests to discover the systems strengths and weaknesses will bring to light opportunities for enhancement. No matter how you go about it, optimization and productivity must be a constant regimen and ongoing process for any firm desirous of optimizing their conveyor machinery.

Conveyors must have countless numbers of parts moving in harmony with no disruption. Topics like safety and upgrading along with all those mentioned above, must be embraced to get the utmost from your system. Development can be easy sometimes and difficult if not impossible at others, but one thing is sure and that is its importance. Development must never be an afterthought. Conveyors do require intense planning and utter attention to detail. If you are serious about optimization and production, you won’t be taking any short cuts.

Visit Wilkie Brothers Coveyors for more information on conveyors or to order Jervis Webb Conveyor Parts, Daifuku Chain or any other related replacement parts.