a conveyor guard may have saved his life - Workplace Safety North

HAZARD ALERT!
PAPER, PRINTING AND CONVERTING SECTOR
Worker's foot crushed by lowering
of winder table
WHAT HAPPENED?
A worker was preparing to tape a paper roll on the winder table. The table had
been lowered to within six inches of the floor. After a few minutes, another
worker standing at the control panel lowered the table all the way to the floor.
The worker taping the roll had his foot positioned under the table. His foot was
crushed between the table and floor, resulting in a fractured toe and removal
of the toenail. The worker would have sustained more serious injuries had he
not been wearing steel-toed safety boots, or had he positioned his foot further
under the table.
WHY DID IT HAPPEN?
Holding the table slightly above the floor is common practice in the taping of small
rolls. The practice relies on effective communication between operator and worker,
and does not prevent unintentional lowering of the table to the floor.
HOW COULD IT BE PREVENTED?
One solution would be to install presence-sensing mats at points of operation (e.g.
where the operator stands to tape the roll) or the addition of guards to prevent the
foot being placed under the suspended table.
Paper production
equipment accounts
for close to 11%
of contact with
machinery injuries
among WSN's clients
(see page 8)
call us toll free:1-888-730-7821 (Ontario only) www.workplacesafetynorth.ca
This alert is based on an actual incident. If you have an incident you’d like to share, please email info@workplacesafetynorth.ca. The description of
circumstances does not reflect legal commentary, nor is it meant to assign legal responsibility to any person or firm.