Manufacturing Industry: 5 Tips for Staying Safe around Rotating Equipment

Rotating equipment is essential in many industries to power and facilitate production processes, and the manufacturing industry is no different.

Rotating equipment involves machinery with rotating parts that spin or rotate during operation. Examples of rotating components include pumps, fans, compressors, shafts, and turbines.

These machines convert energy into mechanical motion, which is often used to perform mechanical work through rotational movement.

As essential as rotating machinery is in manufacturing, it is also some of the riskiest equipment to work with – especially if you do not know how to stay safe around it.

Keep your employees and team members safe around this equipment by following these five safety tips below:

1.   Dress Appropriately

One of the most crucial aspects of staying safe around rotating equipment is to dress appropriately.

Wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including safety glasses, hard hats, gloves, and any other gear required to perform a specific task.

Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry that could get caught in the moving parts of the machinery. That could that lead to injuries and it might also damage the equipment.

2.   Safe Work Practices

The best way to stay safe around rotating equipment in the manufacturing industry is to limit time near it.

By reducing the time spent near rotating machinery, your business can significantly reduce potential accidents and injuries. Use wireless tools whenever possible to maintain a safe distance from the equipment.

If your employees have to get close to rotating equipment, ensure that they are trained on how to be extremely careful and avoid contact with rotating parts like shafts or belts.

3.   Machine Guards

Rotating machinery from Westpower Equipment may require machine guards.

These are safety barriers designed to prevent contact with the most dangerous moving parts of the machines, such as shafts, blades, belts, and gears. Machine guards protect employees from injury, entanglement, and other hazards.

Rotating equipment machine guards can be adjustable, fixed, or interlocking. They are crucial for preventing accidents and injuries and are a legal requirement.

4.   Machine Faults

The risks associated with machine faults must be evaluated as quickly as possible.

During preventative maintenance inspections, if your teams notice a change in a machine fault, they must be able to determine the severity of the change. Floor teams must be able to decide if a fault is moderate or extreme.

Moderate faults generally have a few months before they become extreme faults that could cause a catastrophic failure.

Teams should use wireless tools and vibration meters to diagnose problems early.

5.   Emergency Stop Systems

All rotating machine equipment must have emergency stop systems installed.

Emergency stops are designed to immediately halt the machine’s operation and movement to prevent hazards, accidents, or injuries before they occur.

These buttons must be readily accessible and operators should be trained on their proper use.

To End

Safety is crucial in any industry or commercial setting, particularly regarding the safe operation of rotational machinery.

Rotating equipment can present several hazards if not operated or maintained properly. By following the five tips above you can keep your employees and machinery safe.