Good Connections Magazine

G O O D CO N N E C T I O N S | S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 5 I n the pre-fabricated component industry, equipment is larger, more sophisticated and potentially more hazardous than most jobsite equipment. With this equip- ment comes several responsibilities, first and foremost being employee safety, which is realized through training, machinery risk assessment and reduction, and maintenance procedures. That's nothing new, but from a safety perspective, it's important not to drop our guard when we bring old machines back online, buy used equipment or hire inexperienced new workers. In the past several years, we're seeing truss manufacturers revive old equipment, buying and installing used equipment, and hiring new workers. All three scenarios, especially when they occur simultaneously, can create greater risks for your manufac- turing operations. New equipment typically comes with training, technical support and documentation that may or may not be available for old equipment. When reviving old equipment, you should always have an experienced employee or even a third party assess the risks and hazards associated with its setup, calibration, operation and main- tenance. Furthermore, make sure to include the hazards of the revived machine in your employee training, so that new and existing employees understand the operation and hazards. Failure to take these steps may lead to citations and costly fines, or worse – injury (sometimes severe) or even death. This is also a good time to review all of your equipment and safety/risk/hazard training to ensure that new employees are getting the proper training required to keep them and those around them safe. Don't forget about your veteran employees, either. Their biggest risk is complacency associated with having worked on and around this type of equipment for years. Veterans may also present a risk to new employees by passing on potentially unsafe operating procedures to them. In either case, everyone should be trained to operate the equipment as safely as possible, and hazards should be reduced and eliminated whenever possible. What can you do? • Contact the OEM for available machine documentation and check whether there are any new safeguards available for the equipment you plan to revive. OSHA standards change and you should make a habit of checking regularly with your OEM for safety recommendations or possibly even retrofit kits. • Update your training materials. • Assess the risks before revival. • Train for safe operation before revival. We care deeply about your safety. When working with equipment, always under- stand and stick to safe practices. Watch for "Safety Matters" on the equipment page of each issue. Equipment safety tips will become a regular feature in the Good Connections newsletter. n Jeff Ceurter joined ITW BCG Equipment in 2004 and has more than 18 years of engineering experience. He serves as Engineering Manager – Equipment in the Grand Prairie, Texas, office. Keep Employees Safe During Machine Revival By Jeff Ceurter, P.E. SAFETY MATTERS Why Plant and Equipment Safety Are Important n Reduce worker injury rates n Extend machine operating life n Improve production quality n Reduce business costs n Boost employee morale and loyalty FAST FACT A recent study found that safety signs reduce accident rates in the workplace by up to 80%. If any of the safety stickers and signs on your Alpine equipment are worn, faded or damaged, please contact our customer service team for replacements. Source: National Fire Protection Association

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