Conveyor Safety and In-Running Nip Points

Key Hazards

• Hands, clothing, hair, or tools pulled into in-running nip points
• Workers caught between moving belts, rollers, pulleys, or fixed structures
• Falling, shifting, or ejected material striking nearby workers
• Crossing, climbing, sitting, or standing on active conveyors
• Missing, damaged, bypassed, or poorly positioned guards
• Unexpected conveyor movement during inspection, cleaning, or adjustment

2–3 Minute Talk Script

Conveyors move material efficiently, but the same motion that carries a product can pull a worker into belts, rollers, pulleys, chains, sprockets, and transfer points before there is time to react.

An in-running nip point exists where two moving parts come together or where a moving part approaches a fixed surface. Fingers, gloves, sleeves, hair, tools, and cleaning materials can be drawn into these locations.

Guards, covers, barriers, and other protective devices should remain installed and functional. A guard should never be removed, altered, or bypassed simply because it makes feeding, observation, or cleanup less convenient.

Workers should use designated walkways, crossovers, platforms, and access points. Climbing over, crawling under, riding, sitting, or walking on a conveyor can expose a worker to movement, falls, and unexpected startup.

Material can create additional hazards at loading, transfer, incline, discharge, and accumulation points. Workers should stay clear of unstable loads, falling product, damaged containers, and areas where material may be ejected.

Housekeeping around conveyors is important, but cleanup should not place hands, tools, hoses, or brooms near moving equipment. Material that cannot be removed from a safe distance should be addressed under the required shutdown and energy-control procedure.

Emergency stops and pull cords should remain visible, accessible, and tested according to site procedures. Workers should understand that an emergency stop may stop motion but does not by itself make servicing or entry safe.

When guarding is missing, abnormal noise or vibration is present, material is repeatedly jamming, or workers must enter a hazardous area, the conveyor should be stopped and the condition reported before operation continues.

Safety Reminders

• Stay clear of belts, rollers, pulleys, chains, and transfer points.
• Keep all guards and protective devices in place.
• Use designated walkways and conveyor crossovers.
• Do not ride, sit, stand, or climb on conveyors.
• Keep loose clothing, hair, gloves, and tools away from moving parts.
• Use the required energy-control procedure before hazardous access.
• Report damaged guarding, repeated jams, or abnormal operation.

Ask the Crew

• Where are the in-running nip points on this conveyor?
• Are guards, barriers, and emergency stops in serviceable condition?
• How can workers cross or access the area without entering the conveyor path?
• What material could fall, shift, or become ejected?
• Which tasks require shutdown and hazardous-energy control?