Incident alert

A drier feed conveyor belt had stopped due to slipping drive belts.

The injured party (IP) isolated and locked off the conveyor using his personal padlock but did not raise a Permit-to-Work.

The IP then removed the fixed guard and then attempted adjustments to the drive belts. Without first re-attaching the fixed guard, the IP removed the padlock, turned the isolator to ‘on’ position.

He instructed a colleague to start the conveyor to check if the adjustments had worked. The drier feed conveyor belt didn’t run so the IP put his left hand on top of the 3 x drive belts to get them to engage. This caused the drier feed conveyor belt to move however it stopped when he lifted his hand off the drive belts.

The IP then put his right hand on top of the 3 x drive belts to get the drier feed conveyor to re-engage but when he did so his fingers became entangled in the drier feed conveyor pulley.

• Operatives must only complete tasks/ work activities for which they have been trained and authorised to carry out.


• The Safe Isolation & Lock Out Procedure/ Permit-to-Work procedure must be followed when completing relevant tasks/ work activities to ensure appropriate and effective isolation from all energy sources.


• Fixed guarding is in place to protect you against accidental contact with dangerous moving parts and other hazards. Guarding must be secured BEFORE any isolation is removed.


• If fixed guarding has to be removed frequently because of ongoing breakdowns, to perform adjustments, to carry out greasing or perhaps to clear material build up – don’t just work round it, talk to your Supervisor or the Maintenance team. They will work with you to find a solution.