At work we have a conveyor belt running between the upper (warehouse) floor and the lower floor (shop floor). Its purpose it to transfer stock, in full cases, from the warehouse / delivery area upstairs to the shopfloor. The conveyor belt setup has been here since the building was built in the 50's / 60's. Obviously it's had a couple of new belts and motors in that time! It had a new belt put on in december, after much complaining that stock was simply sliding down the belt.
While the conveyor belt people were there, they took a part of the old belt and fixed it to the "landing" at the bottom of the main section of belt, which previously was just a metal platform. The main stretch used to end with a lip and a metal cover, which stock would get caught and damaged on. Its purpose was obviously to cover the rollers underneath.
Now, however, both rollers are exposed, as there is no metal cover, although they are covered mostly by the belts. The belts can move both ways, and are powered by a motor upstairs, which has controls at the top and bottom. The controls, i believe, are original. The belt has no safety infra-red eyes or other features. The only things that controls it is the 2 controllers.
My question is, do you think this is safe:
At the bottom of the picture is the landing belt (about 3 feet long), the top of the picture is the main, diagonal stretch (about 10 metres long). Only a small person can get underneath to clean, due to the walls and the legs of the belt. My hand fits between the 2 belts, and moving parts are exposed. Because the belt sits between 2 walls, I often have to get on the belt and walk up / down it to rescue cases that are too big (the guard rails are wider at the top!)
As I said, there are no safety features to stop the belt in an emergency / accident, though the stop buttons are a lot more sensitive on both controllers
They were going to put a lift in last year, but it was gonna cost them £20k to make the structural arrangements before they even purchased the lift!
Opinions?
While the conveyor belt people were there, they took a part of the old belt and fixed it to the "landing" at the bottom of the main section of belt, which previously was just a metal platform. The main stretch used to end with a lip and a metal cover, which stock would get caught and damaged on. Its purpose was obviously to cover the rollers underneath.
Now, however, both rollers are exposed, as there is no metal cover, although they are covered mostly by the belts. The belts can move both ways, and are powered by a motor upstairs, which has controls at the top and bottom. The controls, i believe, are original. The belt has no safety infra-red eyes or other features. The only things that controls it is the 2 controllers.
My question is, do you think this is safe:
At the bottom of the picture is the landing belt (about 3 feet long), the top of the picture is the main, diagonal stretch (about 10 metres long). Only a small person can get underneath to clean, due to the walls and the legs of the belt. My hand fits between the 2 belts, and moving parts are exposed. Because the belt sits between 2 walls, I often have to get on the belt and walk up / down it to rescue cases that are too big (the guard rails are wider at the top!)
As I said, there are no safety features to stop the belt in an emergency / accident, though the stop buttons are a lot more sensitive on both controllers
They were going to put a lift in last year, but it was gonna cost them £20k to make the structural arrangements before they even purchased the lift!Opinions?
