Working on Fixed Plant/Conveyors

Working on Fixed Plant/Conveyors

Cleaning or adjusting machinery while it is running and the unexpected start up of equipment has caused many serious injuries and fatalities in quarries and ancillary factories.

Many of these fatalities could have been prevented if the machines had been isolated, locked out and tagged. Without an isolation/lockout procedure, there is always the possibility that somebody will start up the machine while you are working on it.

Hazard: Entanglement in a machine

The isolation/lockout procedure must be used when removing a guard or bypassing a safety device, or when any part of your body is placed where it could be caught by moving machinery.

Control Measures

Isolation/Lockout Procedure:

1. Let all those who need to know that an isolation/lockout procedure is taking place.
2. Identify all parts of any systems that need to be shut down and determine what switches need to be locked off and tagged or the fuses removed.
3. Shut down the equipment.
4. Isolation switches are to be locked in the off position and tagged to prevent and warn people not to start the equipment.
5. Each employee working on the machine must place his own lock and tag on the isolation switch.
6. Test and verify that the equipment is isolated before starting work on the plant.
7. On completion of the work each employee must remove his own isolation lock/tag.

Checks:

• Do you know how to isolate/lockout the machines in your area?
• Have you read the isolation instructions?
• Do you have an isolation tag?
• Do you use it? If not – why not?
• Always isolate before carrying out maintenance / cleaning.
• Always replace guards when work is complete.