R614-5-2. Conveyors

This rule is to cover minimum standards for the safe installation, operation and maintenance of all types of conveying machinery and equipment, which includes belt, bucket, chain, roller, reciprocating or oscillating, screw, pneumatic, and flight conveyors or conveying systems. In the event these orders do not cover a specific hazardous condition, the ANSI standard B-20.1, 1996 shall be used as a guide.

A. Guarding.

1. Driving mechanisms of conveying equipment shall be enclosed by housing or guards where it is possible for workers to come in contact with gears, chain or belt drives or moving shafts. The guards shall be constructed so no part of the body or clothing can contact the driving mechanism.

2. Head pulleys, tail pulleys, take up, counterweights, sprockets, sheaves, drums, blocks, etc., shall be enclosed with guards or the area blocked off with rails or fence so workers cannot come in contact with moving parts.

3. Bucket elevators shall be enclosed in a housing or the area blocked off so no hazard exists from falling material.

4. Screw conveyors, troughs, or box openings shall have covers, grating or guard rails to prevent workers from coming in contact with the moving conveyor.

5. Conveyors passing over work areas, aisles or walkways where workers are exposed shall be covered underneath to eliminate hazard from falling material or personal contact.

6. Openings to hoppers, chutes or other discharge points where workers may be exposed shall be guarded by railings, toeboards, baffleplates, chains, temporary covers and front and sides high enough to prevent workers falling into them and material being discharged from striking them.

7. Platforms with side rails shall be constructed on trippers where a worker is required to ride or climb on the tripper to operate the controls so he cannot slip off or come in contact with the moving machinery. If a platform is not required, levers and controls shall be located so the worker can safely operate the tripper without coming in contact with the moving machinery.

B. Inspection and Maintenance.

1. Periodic inspection of the entire conveying mechanism shall be made for worn parts, defective couplings, loose belts, chains and defective safety devices such as brakes, backstops, overload releases, guards, etc.

2. Such inspection shall be made while the equipment is stopped and locked out except where the inspector can stand completely in the clear of any moving parts.

3. Lubrication of machine parts shall not be done while equipment is operating unless grease and oil fittings are equipped with extensions which permit such lubrication from a position where the worker cannot come in contact with the moving machinery.

C. Walkways, Platforms, Balconies

1. Where conveyors must be crossed over during operation, a walkway with stairs, platform, handrails and toeboards shall be constructed and conspicuously marked with a sign. Where walkways, ramps or stairways are located adjacent to open belt or pan conveyors, they shall be at least 20 inches in width and there shall be three feet clearance from the outside of the passageway and the moving conveyor. All stairways shall have handrails adjacent to the conveyor to prevent workers who may stumble from falling into the conveyor.

2. Where workers must cross under a conveyor, crossunders shall be plainly marked as the only passageways. The passageway shall be covered to prevent contact with moving parts or material falling off the conveyor.

D. Brakes and Backstops.

On conveyors where reversing or a runaway might occur under load in case of power failure, an anti-runaway or backstop device or automatic brake shall be provided or guard rails installed to prevent anyone from being in the area where the falling load could strike him.

E. Dust control.

1. Dust control equipment, provided at transfer points, crushers or such as sprays or exhaust hoods shall be wherever a dust condition exists which may be a health hazard to workers or a fire or explosion hazard.

2. Where the installation of dust control equipment is not practical, workers shall be provided with approved respiratory devices.

F. Fire Protection

1. Housekeeping along conveying systems shall be maintained in a manner that will prevent fires.

2. Where conveying equipment fire may present a hazard to workers or building, emergency fire fighting equipment shall be provided and identified and strategically located to control any outbreak of fire. Equipment selection should consider the control of electrical fires, burning belting and conveyor structures, materials being handled, adjacent materials, etc.

3. Workers operating conveying equipment shall be knowledgeable in the use of the fire protection equipment furnished.

4. Where conveying equipment is located in building or tunnel enclosures where men are working, emergency fire exits shall be provided and identified.

5. All fire fighting equipment, alarm stations, etc., must be identified and readily accessible and free of obstructions.

G. Illumination.

Sufficient lighting to see the equipment clearly shall be provided at floor level, head and tail pulleys, operating stations and along conveyor systems which must be inspected - 5 to 10-foot candles of light meet this requirement.

H. Electrical.

1. Power and control circuits for conveying equipment shall be installed so as to minimize the possibility of electric shock or fire hazard. This shall include grounding. After the effective date of these orders, new equipment shall be installed in accordance with the current edition of the National Electric Code.

2. Power and control circuits shall not be enclosed in the same conduit lines or junction boxes.

3. All starting and stopping devices shall be clearly marked and the immediate area kept clear of obstructions to permit ready access.

4. All conveyor switch boxes shall be identified indicating the voltage and the equipment served.

5. Electrical installations in explosive areas shall meet the requirements, as applicable, of the National Electrical Code, Chapter 500.

6. The installation of electrical emergency conveyor stops, such as pull cables, or push buttons, is recommended where workers are manually loading or unloading or doing cleanup work while equipment is operating.

7. Overload protective devices are recommended on conveying equipment power circuits to prevent damage or fire.

I. Safe Operating Rules.

1. Manually loaded vertical or highly inclined conveyors shall have a sign at the loading point designating the load capacity.

2. No riding shall be permitted on any conveyor not specifically designed and approved to convey workers.

3. Repairs to conveyors or related equipment shall not be done while the equipment is operating. When stopped for repairs, servicing, cleaning, removing overloads, etc., the controls shall be locked or tagged out.

4. No safety device, guard, overload, cutout, brake, etc., shall be removed from a conveyor and the conveyor placed in operation without the device being reinstalled. Where permanent guards at hazardous points must be left off, the area shall be laced off with temporary boards, etc., if the conveyor is placed in operation other than for testing.

5. Workers working around or operating conveyors shall be advised of the location of the starting and stopping devices and instructed how to use them to stop the conveyor in an emergency.