What could happen if one of your equipment malfunctions, and tons of material spill before you’re able to shut it off?
The obvious problem would be the loss of production. You could spend hours, if not days, cleaning up the mess. You may even have to pull workers from other parts of the plant to get the job done faster or hire other people.
But the biggest and most expensive risk that you make is a violation of safety regulations.
- Can a worker be injured if he is buried under the material, or exposed to it?
- Does the material have hazardous properties? (Ex. can cause fires, chemical burns, health problems, etc.)
- Is the worker trained to personally handle and move the material? Does he know the proper safety precautions, and has he been given the proper safety equipment and gear?
- Is this part of his job description? Any task assigned to a worker outside of what he is trained to do increases the risk of injury.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has different levels of safety violations. However, the most serious violation is “When a business owner or manager knows there is a hazard that can result in injury or death and does nothing to resolve it.” Fines can reach up to $14,502 for each one, and willful or repeated violations can get stiffer penalties up to $145,207.
Use DAZIC Zero Speed Switches to Meet Safety Regulations
A DAZIC Zero Speed Switch can help prevent material pileups and detect machine failure. Just like fire alarms, they are cheap, easy to install, and can quickly alert you of a problem.
Speed switches are attached to any equipment that has rotating shafts. The sensors can detect if the rotations per minute (RPM) do not match the speed trip-points that you have set – either it is moving too fast, too slow, or stopped completely. It triggers an alarm and shuts it down.
Several plants around the world have installed DAZIC Zero Speed Switches to prevent worker injury and meet strict industry safety protocols.
Flammable Environments
Some fine powders can form explosive mixtures when released into the air, which can lead to flash fires. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has classified these materials as combustible dusts.
Under OSHA regulations, companies that use these materials must have dust control measures that prevent the accumulation of the dust during daily operations, and an emergency action plan in case the dust collects or is accidentally dispersed.
One of the world’s largest rubber tire manufacturers uses carbon black—classified as a combustible dust—to improve durability and performance. They installed DAZIC Zero Speed Switches to prevent any material spills and meet OSHA safety standards.
Physical Injury
Some industries—like cement, mining, or minerals processing—work with very heavy bulk solids. If any of the equipment fails, workers would have to clear the material before production can resume. However, contact with any material outside of normal operations can have its own risks.
The type and level of hazards depend on the material properties and the process. However, scenarios can include:
- Physical injury from lifting heavy material, or being hit by debris
- Respiratory problems from inhalation of dust and fine powders
- Skin irritation, ranging from rashes to chemical burns
Knowing these risks, a ready-mix concrete manufacturer installed DAZIC Zero Speed Switches to prevent material pile-up. They have 12 mixers, with feeders that load up to 250 tons of gravel an hour.
While they are a local business with limited budgets, the DAZIC Zero Speed Switches were an inexpensive investment that has prevented workplace accidents and very expensive regulatory fines. “It’s really a safety issue,” said plant supervisor Joe Kruzewski. “It would be a train wreck [to be] buried with that amount of gravel.”
The DAZIC Zero Speed Switches are also very durable. The oldest one is 18 years old, and it is still working.
More Information
To learn more about how DAZIC works watch this video. Are you looking to meet safety regulations in your plant? Contact us and meet your safety regulations with DAZIC.
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