“October is historically the deadliest month for miners,” the Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) noted in a report on three fatal accidents in late-September. Additionally, four injuries and one fatality occurred between October 1 and October 22. 
Though none of the recent incidents were conveyor-belt related, it is still important to keep safety in mind when working around conveyor belts.
Nearly 30 miners were killed in conveyor-belt related accidents in the 10-year period from 2000 to 2010, noted in the Safety Watch section of the October issue of Aggregates Manager magazine.
This statistic coincides with a positive milestone for the Kinder & Co K-Protector Return Idler Guard, nearing its 500th sale since records were kept on our current SAP Business One management information system in July 2011. The reliable guard is a practical solution to provide roller pinch point protection. It is designed for convenient access and maintenance and is available to suit all roller diameters and widths. Most importantly – the K-Protector Return Idler Guard meets all of the Australian Mine Safety Standards. Don’t wait for a fine, or worse still a fatality, before checking to see if your conveyor is running safely.
To avoid accidents, follow these four guidelines when working around conveyor belts:
- Stop. Do not work or travel near a conveyor while it is operating. Do not attempt to place your arm or any tools near a roller or other moving part when the belt is moving or may start.
- De-energize. Turn off the power to the conveyor belt and disconnect the electrical circuit at the breaker panel or motor control centre.
- Lock and tag. After disconnecting the power, lock and tag to ensure the conveyor belt cannot be activated while you are working around it.
- Block from motion. Secure the belt to prevent unintended motion such as belt movement caused by stored energy.
If you have a specific enquiry regarding the K-Protector Return Idler Guard, contact one of our sales engineers on 03 9587 9244 or email [email protected]. Go to Kinder & Co’s Safety and Environmental section of the website for further details of all of our Australian safety compliant conveyor supplies. For a copy of our complete Conveyor and Bulk Materials Handling Product Guide simply click here.
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