There are loads of workplace health and safety regulations that employers must abide by to ensure that you as an employee do not end up injured in the line of duty. When it comes to conveyor belts, this falls within the realms of work equipment which is covered by specific regulations called The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
When it comes to this particular blog, we are looking at two main areas: access to dangerous parts of machinery, and emergency stop controls. As it happens, the regulations are so thorough that there are specific sections dedicated to each of these scenarios:
In summary, your employer must:
- Ensure you cannot be injured by a part of a machine.
- Ensure fixed guards prevent access to dangerous parts.
- Ensure you are trained to understand potential risks and how to avoid them, and supervised appropriately.
It is all about what is practicable and reasonable. It could be impossible to ensure that there is no part of a conveyor belt that you could trap yourself in. After all, it’s a moving part of a machine. But that’s where the last point comes in about training and supervision – you should be aware of dangers and how to avoid them.
The regulations also go in to details about making sure that such measures like guards are maintained, cannot be bypassed, and are located sufficiently – i.e. actually prevent access to dangerous parts of a machine.
Emergency Stop Controls
The regulations also put a duty to ensure that emergency stop controls are in place to stop machinery to either prevent or minimise a potential injury.
16.(1) Every employer shall ensure that, where appropriate, work equipment is provided with one or more readily accessible emergency stop controls unless it is not necessary by reason of the nature of the hazards and the time taken for the work equipment to come to a complete stop as a result of the action of any control provided by virtue of regulation 15(1). (Legislation)
So if you are injured in these kinds of circumstances you may have a compensation claim for a work injury if your employer has breached these important rules and regulations. Give us a call and we can assess your claim and assist, if we can, on a No Win, No Fee basis and 100% compensation basis.
