DISPUTING THE COMMON PRACTICE OF ‘ GUARDING BY LOCATION ’
PLANT AND EQUIPMENT •
DISPUTING THE COMMON PRACTICE OF ‘ GUARDING BY LOCATION ’
By R . Todd Swinderman , P . E ./ CEO Emeritus and Daniel Marshall , process engineer , Martin Engineering component . Using tools and methods that extend a worker ' s reach while the belt is running is a hazardous activity that can contribute to serious – and possibly fatal – accidents .
Martin Engineering , a global leader in conveyor safety is disputing that ‘ Guarding by Location ’ – the idea that putting conveyor equipment out of reach or inconveniently placed away from workers – is a valid form of safety .
After decades of safe equipment design and comprehensive conveyor safety training in the bulk handling industry , experts have witnessed instances where ‘ guarding by location ’ has led to a lapse in workplace safety , resulting in injuries and – in some cases – fatalities .
Images supplied by © 2023 Martin Engineering
Unguarded return rollers over walkways can fall and produce a serious hazard .
Worker risks from ‘ Guarding by Location ’ Some regulations define a general safe height for components based on the average height of workers . This means taller employees ( 1.82m / 6ft in height or more ) can easily suffer an injury reaching up into a moving component that is 2.13m / 7ft above the ground . Working above machinery that is considered guarded by location exposes workers to increased severity of injury if they slip or fall to a lower level too . _
Height prevents a worker from reaching hazardous areas until the reality of bulk operations proves otherwise .
Hazards from above By not requiring a physical barrier , guarding by location creates what is considered by some to be an exception to the general requirements for the guarding of hazards in the workplace . Several hazardous locations are beyond the normal reach of staff when working or walking under or around elevated conveyors . These hazards are commonly found in or around nip points between the belt and return rollers or drive components such as pulley shafts , couplings , drive belts , gears and chains . Additional hazards from falling components may be inadvertently ignored if considered guarded by location .
Reach-in hazards (‘ breaking the plane ’) can apply to both the mesh size and the height of the barrier .
Most regulations do not account for the potential buildup of spillage underneath the conveyor or in walkways , which can easily change the distance between the working surface and a hazard . It ’ s also fairly common practice to purposely collect a pile of material or fill a bin to gain access for service or inspection of an elevated
Return roller guards ensure detached rollers do not pose a hazard to workers or harm the system .
Guarding best practices The logical solution to guarding by location is to simply install guards and baskets to protect workers from lateral and overhead hazards , while still offering safe and easy access . For maximum risk reduction , all nip points , shear points and moving or rotating components should be guarded , regardless of location or access .
For maximum risk reduction , all nip points , shear points and moving or rotating components should be guarded , regardless of location or access . www . africanmining . co . za African Mining Publication African Mining African Mining • January 2024 • 75