Safety & Health in the Stone Crushing Industry - Occupational ...

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Step 5 Review your risk assessment and update if necessary
Few workplaces stay the same. Eventually, you will bring in new equipment, change procedures or
simply shift to another place. This can lead to new hazards. It makes sense, therefore, to take time to
review the situation on an ongoing basis. Every year, you should review how things are, where there is
room for improvements and if your former improvements are still working.
Look at your risk assessment again: Have there been any changes? Are there improvements you still
need to make? Have your workers spotted a problem? Can you learn anything from accidents or near
misses? It is best to think about this risk assessment while you are planning your change – that way
you are ahead of any surprises. If there is a significant change during the year, do not wait. Just look at
your risk assessment and, where necessary, correct it. The benefits of planning are enormous.
Preventing just one accident is usually three or four times cheaper than paying for the subsequent cost
of an accident.
You will find more information on hazards and risks at work at these
websites:
http://www.osha.gov
http://www.hse.co.uk
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html
http://www.ccohs.ca/
A.2 Preventing Accidents in a Stone Crushing Unit
A.2.1 Preventing Falls from Heights
Accidents are always bad for the victim and for business. Some of the most common causes of
accidents in a stone crushing unit are:
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Hands and fingers or toes being crushed by stones
Body parts such as hands or arms being caught in machines
Traffic accidents inside the unit
− Falling and slipping from heights
There are many occasions where stone crushing workers are at a specific risk for falls.
Location/Workplace
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Working on top of the primary crusher, for instance during boulder off loading when boulders are
brought in by trailers from quarries and fed in to the receiving pit
At the primary crusher area when stones are stuck and need to be shoved to undo the jam
On work platforms, for instance during repair and maintenance work on the crusher itself