Workplace health, safety and wellbeing for Conveyor Belt Makers: cranes, rolls and hot, loud presses
Rolls weigh several tonnes and move by crane and truck, in heat and noise. A mistake in rigging or signalling is severe, so the habits matter more than a policy file.
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Share your requirementsWhy workplace health, safety and wellbeing matters in conveyor belt makers
Moving belt rolls with cranes, slings and trucks leaves little room for error. Signals are given across noise, slings are reused past their condition and people stand where they should not because the job is urgent. Calenders and vulcanising presses add heat, loud noise and steam, and fatigue builds across a week of long shifts. Helpers do much of the handling with little training, and they are the ones nearest the load.
Good looks like regular, short practice in signals, sling checks and exclusion zones, with a sign-off for each crane operator and rigger. Heat and noise are managed with rotation, breaks, water and protection that is actually worn. A brief start-of-shift talk covers the day's heavy lifts, and near misses are noted and read out so lessons are shared.
How to set it up
1. Map the heavy moves
List each type of roll move: from calender to lay-up, press to finishing, finishing to truck. Note the equipment, number of people and the danger zones.
2. Train and sign off crane and rigging staff
Signals, sling inspection, load limits and exclusion zones practised on the floor, with a sign-off. Repeat at set intervals and after any near miss. Confirm legal requirements with a qualified professional.
3. Brief helpers before heavy handling
A short briefing with demonstration for helpers who guide or stand near rolls. They need to know where to stand, how to signal stop and who is in charge of the lift.
4. Manage heat and noise
Rotate people near calenders and presses, give breaks and water, and check that ear protection is worn properly. The Conveyor Belt Makers overview describes these areas.
5. Run a near-miss habit
One minute at shift start for last shift's near misses and today's heavy lifts. Record them. Look at the record monthly and fix the most common cause.
Check these first
Before changing anything, find out what is true today. These take an afternoon and use your own records.
- Ask crane operators when they last had a refresher and who gave it.
- Look at slings in use and ask who inspects them and how often.
- Watch a roll move and note where helpers stand.
- Count heat or noise complaints and near misses in the last quarter and see how many are written down.
GullyHR can do this with you. Read how we approach workplace health, safety and wellbeing in general, or share your requirements and we will tell you where to start.
Questions owners ask
Regular short practice works better than a long course once in a while. Set a fixed interval, add a refresher after any near miss, and confirm legal requirements with a qualified professional.
Brief them on where to stand and how to signal stop, mark exclusion zones on the floor and make one person in charge of each lift. Helpers should never guess.
Rotation, breaks, water, well-fitted ear protection and a check at shift start cost little. Ask the crews what bothers them most and fix that first.