Dear SH Koekemer,

Using a conveyor as a walkway can have serious injury consequences and should not be considered. Even if the conveyor is de-energized whenever anyone is walking on it, the potential for injury just in getting on or off the conveyor is too high. The savings involved in not installing a catwalk beside the unit can be quickly lost due to the cost associated with injuring a worker.

Although some facilities have historically used a moving bulk material handling conveyor as a means to move people from one end to the other, they are courting disaster.

The only conveyors that should have personnel on them are those which are designed for the purpose, and which have adequate safety features incorporated.

Regards, ■

You have to ask yourself. "If someone ever got hurt as a result of working on that conveyor, was I duediligent in my design to the incorporate all the necessary safety requirements"

This is the type of question that would be asked in a court of law or during the accident investigation.

I would hate to have to say "I left out the walkway to cut cost". ■

Mr Koekemoer:

South Africa presently uses belt conveyors as man-riding transport. The complaints of the two prior respondents seems to target safety issues which are all too general.

All manner of access and maintenance to the conveyor's rotating machines require proper safety lock-out procedures. Operators must handle various rotating components of equipment as an on-going practice. How does the use of walkway access differ? Provide useful and safe hand-rails and fail-safe safety catches, along the conveyor and at the discharge, in the extremely unlikely event of a trip to the edge. How does this differ from standard man-riding conveyor in use in South Africa now?

Issues involving safety should include: 1) the angle of incline, 2) condition of the surface such as - slippery when wet access , 3) access to handrail in the event of a stumble, 4) handling and hauling of tools and their payload mass, 5) use of walkway with material on belt with large lumps, 6) safety belt usage attached to handlrail 7) safety net at discharge, 8) ....

The concept does differ from the man-riding conveyor as noted in the prior paragraph. However, as a concept, I do not see reason to throw it out without extensive dialog. The dialog must point out the obvious weakness that has not been attempted by the prior respondents. I believe the question and appropriate answers require further data before an objective opinion can be formed.

The 15 degree slope is possibly one limitation. With a dry belt, this is not an issue. Wet iron ore can create a slimmy surface that may be treacherous.

Hope you get some positive and thought provoking feedback.

Lawrence Nordell

Conveyor Dynamics, Inc.

Bellingham, Washington

email: nordell@conveyor-dynamics.com ■

Although the idea of using the belt as a walkway is feasible, the best method of determining whether you have a safe situation is to hold a safety workshop with the operators and engineers and rigourously analyse all potential aspects of the operation.

Consider all aspects such as whether you can really (and I mean really) safely lock out this conveyor every time you want to use it for access (can you afford the downtime?), Can you make it safe to get on and off the belt at both ends without compromising operating safety by giving access to the moving belt, whether using this belt for access is going to give the wrong message to operators regarding the use of other belts, Can you guarantee that all material is off the belt when you need access, and I am sure there will be many others. If you can convince yourselves that there are no risks and that you have filled your duties of care to all people who may be on site at any time you might be able to sell it. I would want everybody to sign off acceptance.

I really have my doubts, and freely admit that I would not consider this as an option in any way shape or form. ■

Dear Mr Davis & Koekemoer:

Having a reasonable amount of experience, in many countries, working on and around conveyors, We have never found an installation where there was a restriction to access of on, or around the conveyor when proper lockout prcedures are followed. It is precisely the point. Access is required to place oneself to no-risk for hands-on, in a safe manner, using proper lockout procedures.

Pulley lagging and belt cleaner inspection, idler change out, an all manner of belt and related components, that need periodic inspection and repair ( climbing in chutes et al ... with a no-risk to the crew), must apply safe practices or the plant does not function.

If one practices to the notion suggested, the ability to repair the equipment would not be allowed. What then?

I think the solution must be practical and proven without contempt for the owner/operators being ignorant, stupid or uncaring. The tone of the rhetoric should be professional and, if critical, make the precise points as how to cope and to overcome the consequences.

Sensitive to the issues,

Lawrence Nordell

Conveyor Dynamics, Inc. ■

Using conveyors as walkways in ONTARIO is not allowed. Deemed UNSAFE and a danger to employees. For all the normal reasons, it is truly not desirable: slippage, non-lockout accidents, walking on material on belt, which if there is a breakdown or stoppage would be inevitable and completely indefensible in a court of law. I have experience slipping and falling on a belt conveyor at 18 degree incline and it is very scary at height.

A non-slip grating of many fabrications would be much desirable to avoid the SAFETY HAZARD and dangers of no walkway. Non slip materials will cope with any spillage or slippery mtl and ensure happy employees and prove more cost effective in the long run.

My two cents..... Thankyou for listening...... ■

Mr Nordell

I don't think anyone will disagree with your comments of being able to maintain the conveyor via proper lock-out proceedures.

The question here is using the conveyor as a walkway.

I would not hesitate to have anyone work up on a conveyor to do any maintenace function as long as the loack-out proceedures were followed and they were tied off if they were in danger of falling more than 3 meters but having someone walking along a conveyor on the belt would never happen under my direction.

Gary Blenkhorn ■

S H Koekemoer,

My opinion is that use of bulk material industrial conveyor, as a walkway is very hazardous and it is better to avoid it. Certainly, I will not opt for it. You can think of incorporating one side cat walkway of 400mm width, fitted with self cleaning grating and designed for least live load. This may amount to just 3 to 4 tonne steel work (say approximately USD 6000), which is an insignificant amount in the project price of mobile crushing plant.

Regards,

I G Mulani.

Author - Book on 'Engineering Science and Application Design for Belt Conveyors'

parimul@pn2.vsnl.net.in ■