Produced in conjunction with crushing equipment manufacturer Sandvik Mining and Construction, the revised guidance notes address a number of potential hazards associated with track-mounted mobile crushers.
“Although thankfully not on our members’ sites, there have been fatalities involving jaw crushers and the Health and Safety Executive is taking a very keen interest in their safe operation,” said NFDC chief executive Howard Button.
“The HSE is seeking to outlaw the practice of having an operative on the machine’s platform while it’s in operation to protect him from being struck by an excavator’s bucket, avoid possible whole body vibration, limit exposure to noise and dust, prevent him falling into the crushing chamber and to avoid him being hit by material ejected from the crusher’s jaws. We are similarly keen to avoid these potential hazards but we are also keen to ensure that any guidance reflects the nature of our business and are not simply a set of modified rules derived from a quarry guidance.”
Quarry vs recycling duties
There are numerous differences between a jaw crusher in a quarry processing virgin aggregate and a jaw crusher on a demolition or recycling site processing a variety of materials. Key among these is the presence of steel, tramp iron and other contaminants in the feed material.
“The primary reason a man is stationed atop a track mounted mobile crusher is to watch for materials that might cause a blockage such as steel reinforcing bar, or worse, a girder section. That is something quarries simply don’t have to contend with,” Button asserted. “These are, however, ever-present dangers in a demolition or recycling application and operators have to be vigilant to avoid blockage, bridging and damage to conveyors. Our guidance notes reflect the differences between these two distinct applications but are still designed to safeguard our operatives.”
Produced in conjunction with crushing equipment manufacturer Sandvik Mining and Construction, the revised guidance notes address a number of potential hazards associated with track-mounted mobile crushers.
“Although thankfully not on our members’ sites, there have been fatalities involving jaw crushers and the Health and Safety Executive is taking a very keen interest in their safe operation,” said NFDC chief executive Howard Button.
“The HSE is seeking to outlaw the practice of having an operative on the machine’s platform while it’s in operation to protect him from being struck by an excavator’s bucket, avoid possible whole body vibration, limit exposure to noise and dust, prevent him falling into the crushing chamber and to avoid him being hit by material ejected from the crusher’s jaws. We are similarly keen to avoid these potential hazards but we are also keen to ensure that any guidance reflects the nature of our business and are not simply a set of modified rules derived from a quarry guidance.”
Quarry vs recycling duties
There are numerous differences between a jaw crusher in a quarry processing virgin aggregate and a jaw crusher on a demolition or recycling site processing a variety of materials. Key among these is the presence of steel, tramp iron and other contaminants in the feed material.
“The primary reason a man is stationed atop a track mounted mobile crusher is to watch for materials that might cause a blockage such as steel reinforcing bar, or worse, a girder section. That is something quarries simply don’t have to contend with,” Button asserted. “These are, however, ever-present dangers in a demolition or recycling application and operators have to be vigilant to avoid blockage, bridging and damage to conveyors. Our guidance notes reflect the differences between these two distinct applications but are still designed to safeguard our operatives.”