Conveyor Belt Safety

Conveyor belts were invented in the 1790’s. American groceries began using steel conveyor belts in 1901. By the 1960’s, automated conveyor belts were appearing in grocery stores across the nation. Though a major convenience for staff and customers alike, conveyor belts also pose a number of risks. A study conducted in 2009 by Dr. Zhinong Yan of Moi Belting Systems, Grand Rapids, Michigan found that grocery store conveyor belts contained several types of bacteria including MRSA, E. coli, salmonella, listeria, and staph. Dr. Yan tested belts in 42 Michigan grocery stores and found contamination in 100% of the stores tested. If grocery conveyor belts are not cleaned and sanitized frequently, then there is potential for the presence of bacteria. Conveyor belts risks include fingers getting pinched, shoestrings or clothing getting tangled, etc. Children, when allowed to play on or near conveyor belts, can come in direct contact with bacteria present on the
conveyor belt, as well as contribute to the presence of bacteria that is generally found on the bottoms of their shoes. Product hooks are often found around grocery conveyor belts, usually to the side and holding various product. Hooks can also be found on the end of conveyor belts. This poses an obvious risk as it is usually located below the line of sight. An obvious solution is to not have hooks located in this area. These areas must be checked daily to ensure proper function of the grocery conveyor belt:

• Physically inspect conveyor drive components.
• Inspect the entire surface of the conveyor belt for any wear.
• Check for damaged or broken parts.
• Check rollers for structural damage or debris buildup.
• Check for misalignment of conveyor belts.
• Check the belt and joints to ensure no unusual peeling or damage.
• Check the machine guard placement.
• Check the emergency stops to make sure it is functioning properly.

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