Rock crushing comes with its own set of risks attached to it. Working in the vicinity of crushing equipment and aggregates can give rise to a lot of potential danger. One needs to be well-aware of all the ways they could land into trouble. Whether you are working on the site floor or operating crushing equipment, the danger remains the same in all cases. A slight mistake can prove fatal in such scenarios.
To ensure proper safety of the crew operating the crusher and working the quarry site, few precautions need to be put in place. It is essential to train and advise the whole unit that is in charge of operations about safety and emergency procedures. Here are a few common mishaps that can happen around a rock crushing site:
Slips, trips, and falls
Most of the injuries stem from neglect of basic processes like proper stacking of crushed rock and cleaning of the crusher site. Workers may end up slipping on the residual sand or tripping and falling from the debris of crushed rocks. Hence, it is necessary to keep the area surrounding the rock crushers clean.
Maintenance-related injuries
Operating an unmaintained machine is a recipe for disaster. Ensure that crushers like jaw crushers, cone crushers and Vertical Shaft Impactors, etc. are serviced and cleaned regularly. Also, it is important that the machine is properly turned off during maintenance. Crushers are unpredictable and hence injuries can often result when it is operated poorly. Improper protocol followed during maintenance can lead to severe end results which can prove fatal to the operator.
Some tips to prevent injuries from happening near a rock crusher:
Provide Safety Manuals
Never let anyone operate, maintain or clean the equipment without reading the safety manual first. Safety manuals come with detailed insights on how to properly operate, maintain, clean and store the crusher when not in use. They also have handy tips on improving the efficiency in operations. Proper knowledge about any equipment can drastically reduce the scope for errors and hence the possibilities for injuries happening.
Safeguard the Operator
Projectile rock is one of the deadliest by product of rock crushing. Thus, is it crucial to protect the rock crusher operator from it. Ensure that the operator is behind a safety glass and wearing a face shield at all times while operating the rock crusher.
Follow Safety Protocol
The workmen at the quarry also need to be safeguarded when rock crushing is on process. They should be provided with necessary PPE kits, helmets, safety goggles and shoes.
Regular Training & Safety Drills
When working with a particular equipment for a long time, the workers turn to be complacent. Most fatalities occur when complacency overpowers confidence. Thus, regular safety drills and training needs to be in place so that the crew is continually reminded of safety protocols that cannot be taken lightly.
Maintenance of Equipment
A well maintained machine is a job half done. Regular maintenance and service of rock crushers and other equipment can make everyone’s life easier at the quarry. The earlier a repair is done, the lesser the chance of fatalities.
Employee safety should be the top priority of all industries, let alone the rock crushing world. Always make sure that your work site stays as accident-free as possible. The first step towards it would be to invest in high quality rock crushing equipment. We, at Proman, are masters of high quality, durable, and safer rock crushing equipment. Be it rock crushers or screeners, feeders or classifiers, you name it- we got it. Call us today for more information and we will be happy to help!