Conveyor accidents
Conveyor systems are the backbone of efficient material handling, yet they present significant entanglement and crushing hazards that require constant vigilance. By prioritizing robust engineering controls and rigorous safety protocols, managers can effectively mitigate these risks and foster a culture of operational excellence.
About 98% of related real accidents concentrate in these types.
Key prevention
- Ensure all nip points and moving parts are protected by fixed, tamper-resistant physical guards.
- Implement a comprehensive lockout/tagout program to isolate energy sources during maintenance or clearing of jams.
- Install highly visible, easily accessible emergency stop devices along the entire length of the conveyor path.
- Enforce strict policies regarding loose clothing, jewelry, and hair to prevent accidental entanglement with moving belts.
- Conduct recurring safety training sessions to ensure all personnel understand the specific hazards and safe operating procedures of their equipment.
Related accident cases
While inspecting a conveyor belt in a tunnel, a worker's hand was caught in a malfunctioning roller, resulting in severe injuries to their left hand requiring surgery.
While repairing a loose conveyor belt, an operator was caught between the rotating belt and a fixed pulley when the belt unexpectedly started while they were attempting to remove debris.
An employee's left arm was caught between the conveyor belt and a steel structure while cleaning. The conveyor was not guarded.
A worker sustained fatal injuries due to being caught in a belt conveyor during work at a mine. The incident occurred while performing transport, loading/unloading, and operation tasks.
While performing loading/unloading and stacking operations using powered machinery, the worker's body became caught between the rotating part and the fixed structure of a belt conveyor. The worker sustained injuries to their right hip and shin.
A worker became caught in a belt conveyor while inspecting the machinery for debris during repair work.
A worker's right hand became caught between a conveyor belt and a slide roller. This incident is presumed to have occurred due to a failure to follow lockout/tagout procedures.
During a conveyor belt replacement, an employee reached into the structure to free the belt and their left ring finger became caught in the belt frame.