In the warehouse automation industry, palletizers play a vital role in the efficient handling and movement of goods. However, it is important to ensure that proper machinery safety measures are in place to prevent accidents and injuries.
Common Hazards with Palletizers
Palletizers can present several hazards to operators and maintenance personnel. Some of the most common hazards include:
- Entanglement: Palletizers often have moving parts that can entangle hands, hair, or clothing if proper precautions are not taken.
- Crushing: Palletizers may have areas where fingers or hands can be caught and crushed, such as between rollers or between the palletizer and a fixed surface.
- Impact: Palletizers may have parts that can fall or swing unexpectedly, posing an impact hazard to workers.
- Ejection: Palletizers may eject objects with force, such as pallets or boxes, which can injure workers if they are in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Machinery Safety Standards for Palletizers
There are several machinery safety standards that specifically mention palletizers and provide guidelines for ensuring their safe use. Some of these include:
- ISO 14159: This international standard covers the safety of machinery and includes specific requirements for interlocks on palletizers.
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147: The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) standard in the United States includes provisions for palletizers and other machinery.
- EN 528: This European standard covers the safety of automatic storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), including palletizers.
Tips for Ensuring Palletizer Safety
There are several steps that can be taken to ensure the safe operation of palletizers in the warehouse automation industry:
As the use of palletizers in warehouse automation continues to grow, it is important for businesses to prioritize machinery safety in these applications. Palletizers, which are used to stack and package goods onto pallets, can pose several hazards to workers if proper safety measures are not put in place. Employers should also provide workers with safety training and make sure that all safety guards and interlocks are functioning properly.
In addition to guard fencing and interlocks, there are several other steps that businesses can take to make their palletizers safer. These include installing emergency stop buttons and ensuring that all workers are aware of their locations, as well as implementing proper maintenance procedures to prevent equipment failures.
To ensure that their palletizers are in compliance with safety standards, businesses should consult relevant standards such as ISO 13850, which outlines requirements for emergency stop systems, and ISO 14119, which covers interlocking devices with guards. These standards provide guidance on what needs to be done to meet safety requirements and can help businesses identify any potential hazards.
Palletiser Safety Over Productivity
While the use of palletizers has greatly increased efficiency in the warehouse automation industry, it is important to remember that machinery safety should always be a top priority. By implementing proper safety measures and following relevant standards, businesses can help prevent accidents and injuries caused by palletizers.
If you have any questions or concerns about the safety of your palletizing equipment, don’t hesitate to reach out to the experts at Fortress Safety. Palletizers are commonly used in the warehousing and logistics industry to automate the process of packaging and stacking goods onto pallets. While these machines can greatly increase efficiency and productivity, it is important to ensure that they are used safely to prevent accidents and injuries.
Palletizer Safety Statistics
According to statistics, Palletizers are responsible for a significant number of injuries in the workplace. In order to prevent these accidents, it is important to adhere to safety standards such as OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.212, which covers general requirements for all machinery, and ANSI B11.19, which covers specific requirements which can be used for Palletizers.
At Fortress Safety, we have application experts who can help you with all of your machinery safety needs.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help keep your Palletizer safe.
