In a recent CORESafety E-Comm, we shared some information on staying safe while conducting maintenance on belt conveyors.

But it’s equally important to be highly alert when you’re working on ANY job or task that brings you NEAR a belt conveyor.

Here’s an example of why —

Let’s say you are in a tunnel far away from an exit and the only way to clean up spillage is to shovel it off the floor onto a moving conveyor.

If you’re shoveling against the flow and the shovel gets caught on the conveyor, it could possibly hit you and result in a serious injury.

You should always shovel WITH the direction of conveyor travel, so that any inadvertent contact with the conveyor pulls the shovel AWAY from you.*

OTHER BEST PRACTICES AROUND BELT CONVEYORS– A moving conveyor belt can draw your tools, your clothing, your hand or your arm five feet into a pinch point before you can react.

– Remember that in less than a second, a conveyor can grab you, pull you in and not let go. Do not touch, climb, walk, ride or perform work on a moving conveyor belt.

– Never cross under a conveyor unless you’re at a designated and protected point.

– When physically working on top of belts, remember to make sure they are locked out and tagged out (LOTO). You should confirm they are blocked from any inadvertent movement.

– Know the location of emergency shut-off devices for conveyors and how to use them.

– Test emergency shut-off devices frequently.

– Always keep equipment guards securely in place when conveyors are operating or energized. Never reach around or through a guard.

– Never clean or otherwise contact idlers, head, tail, bend or take-up pulleys during conveyor operation.

– If you are shoveling, erect a barrier that keeps the shovel from reaching the edge of the belt, but allows material to pass over or through.

ALWAYS STAY SAFE! 

Share this safety information from CORESafety with your fellow miners. Remind them to always follow these best practices. Stay safe!

*Thanks to Glen Oswald, Retired Mining Engineer, for writing in about this topic.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

You should also refer to these CORESafety resources:

Module #4 – Fatality Prevention & Risk Management

Module #5 – Training & Competence

Module #12 – Work Procedures & Permit

To learn more about CORESafety, visit www.coresafety.org