OPTIMISING RESULTS AND ROI FROM CONVEYOR SAFETY TRAINING The hours spent training production and maintenance teams can lead to variable results. They might just tick the boxes without providing a return on investment. Or they can enhance safety, foster team building, and develop a deep understanding of the equipment that boosts efficiency and uptime. By R. Todd Swinderman, President Emeritus/Martin Engineering.
Conveyor maintenance can be dangerous even when LOTO and other safety measures are in place.
T raining should be robust and encourage problem-solving using modern methods and standards. Companies that prioritise safety experience fewer safety incidents, less regulatory oversight, and higher productivity and profits. When it comes to conveyor belts, a one-day training session can serve as a refresher, but it is recommended that staff complete a comprehensive course lasting at least two days. Conveyors are as complex as they are crucial to operations, and training should include a mix of classroom and hands-on learning, followed by a pilot programme to encourage team building and gauge results. The problem A commitment to safety starts at the top with corporate culture. A “production-at-all-costs” approach means safety concerns are always present. Bad habits and injuries
often stem from three things: • Lack of funding. • An understaffed maintenance department. • A ‘run-till-broke’ mentality. Good safety habits require training and the patience for extra steps. Cutting corners and labelling it “efficiency” can lead to serious inju- ries, low morale, downtime, and lost production. Basic training Everyone who operates, cleans, or maintains conveyors should be trained on the hazards of bulk material handling. Basic training helps staff identify problems and resolve them safely. Appropriate safety training emphasises a basic understanding of conveyor design and operation, as well as the Lock-Out Tag-Out (LOTO) proce- dures required for working on and around the system. Advanced training Over time, production demands
cause the conveyor belt speed and capacity to reach beyond the origi- nal design specifications. Systems are incrementally modified to min- imize problems associated with the demands. Advanced conveyor design training for engineers and mechanics is critical for diagnosis and the development of updated solutions. No two conveyors are identical, so adhering to stan- dard design methods allows a technician to make adjustments that another can recognise and understand. Day one A walk down “problem belts” before the training helps the instructor focus on site-specific problems and the management’s expectations. The first day starts in the classroom with the class reviewing typical problems, dis- cussing challenges, and the best practices of safely addressing them. The class identifies a couple of problem conveyors and splits
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