SayPro USING MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT

To reduce potential accidents associated with workplace equipment, employees need to be trained in the proper use and limitations of the equipment they operate. This includes knowing how to effectively use equipment such as conveyors, cranes, and slings.ConveyorsWhen using conveyors, workers’ hands may be caught in nip points where the conveyor runs over support members or rollers; workers may be struck by material falling off the conveyor; or they may become caught on or in the conveyor, thereby being drawn into the conveyor path.To reduce the severity of an injury, an emergency button or pull cord designed to stop the conveyor must be installed at the employee’s work station. Continuously accessible conveyor belts should have an emergency stop cable that extends the entire length of the conveyor belt so that the cable can be accessed from any location along the belt. The emergency stop switch must be designed to be reset before the conveyor can be restarted. Before restarting a conveyor that has stopped due to an overload, appropriate personnel must inspect the conveyor and clear the stoppage before restarting. Employees must never ride on a materials handling conveyor. Where a conveyor passes over work areas or aisles, guards must be provided to keep employees from being struck by falling material. If the crossover is low enough for workers to run into, it must be guarded to protect employees and either marked with a warning sign or painted a bright color.Screw conveyors must be completely covered except at loading and discharging points. At those points, guards must protect employees against contacting the moving screw; the guards are movable, and they must be interlocked to prevent conveyor movement when not in place.CranesOnly thoroughly trained and competent persons are permitted to operate cranes. Operators should know what they are lifting and what it weighs. The rated capacity of mobile cranes varies with the length of the boom and the boom radius. When a crane has a telescoping boom, a load may be safe to lift at a short boom length and/or a short boom radius, but may overload the crane when the boom is extended and the radius increases.All movable cranes must be equipped with a boom angle indicator; those cranes with telescoping booms must be equipped with some means to determine the boom length, unless the load rating is independent of the boom length. Load rating charts must be posted in the cab of cab-operated cranes. All mobile cranes do not have uniform capacities for the same boom length and radius in all directions around the chassis of the vehicle.Always check the crane’s load chart to ensure that the crane is not going to be overloaded for the conditions under which it will operate. Plan lifts before starting them to ensure that they are safe. Take additional precautions and exercise extra care when operating around power lines.Some mobile cranes cannot operate with outriggers in the traveling position. When used, the outriggers must rest on firm ground, on timbers, or be sufficiently cribbed to spread the weight of the crane and the load over a large enough area. This will prevent the crane from tipping during use. Hoisting chains and ropes must always be free of kinks or twists and must never be wrapped around a load. Loads should be attached to the load hook by slings, fixtures, or other devices that have the capacity to support the load on the hook. Sharp edges of loads should be padded to prevent cutting slings. Proper sling angles shall be maintained so that slings are not loaded in excess of their capacity.All cranes must be inspected frequently by persons thoroughly familiar with the crane, the methods of inspecting the crane, and what can make the crane unserviceable. Crane activity, the severity of use, and environmental conditions should determine inspection schedules. Critical parts, such as crane operating mechanisms, hooks, air or hydraulic system components and other load-carrying components, should be inspected daily for any maladjustment, deterioration, leakage, deformation, or other damage.SlingsWhen working with slings, employers must ensure that they are visually inspected before use and during operation, especially if used under heavy stress. Riggers or other knowledgeable employees should conduct or assist in the inspection because they are aware of how the sling is used and what makes a sling unserviceable. A damaged or defective sling must be removed from service.Slings must not be shortened with knots or bolts or other makeshift devices, sling legs that have been kinked must not be used. Slings must not be loaded beyond their rated capacity, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Suspended loads must be kept clear of all obstructions, and crane operators should avoid sudden starts and stops when moving suspended loads. Employees also must remain clear of loads about to be lifted and suspended. All shock loading is prohibited.Please visit our website at www.saypro.online Email: info@saypro.online Email: info@saypro.online Call: + 27 11 071 1903 WhatsApp: + 27 84 313 7407. Comment below for any questions and feedback. For SayPro Courses, SayPro Jobs, SayPro Community Development, SayPro Products, SayPro Services, SayPro Consulting, and SayPro Advisory visit our website to www.saypro.online