Man vs. Machine — Smart Conveyor Guarding | Apex Safety Spotlight

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Conveyor Guarding Products for Warehouse Safety & Compliance 

Conveyors keep inventory moving and orders filled, but at speeds up to 600 feet per minute (10’ per second), they definitely pose a safety risk. Statistically, nearly 25% of all worker compensation claims are due to injuries sustained by a conveyor. OSHA requires conveyor guarding, but it is also just smart business. The right protective guards safeguard your workers from injuries and your business from financial penalties and costly downtime. Your guard rails must shield workers from contacting moving parts, prevent them from getting caught in the machinery, and protect against falling items from suspended systems. Apex Safety Spotlight is here to make sure you understand the risks and get the protection you need.

Conveyor Guarding Benefits

  • OSHA Compliance
  • Improved warehouse safety
  • Increased worker satisfaction
  • Protect conveyor from damage
  • Enhanced productivity
  • Fast, measurable ROI

Powered conveyors have pinch points that can cause severe injuries to workers. Hands and arms are particularly vulnerable as employees work around the conveyor. Safety protocols should always prohibit loose clothing, jewelry, and hair near the conveyors. Even with careful workers and good safety training, accidents can happen;  however, with sufficient conveyor guarding, you can prevent most serious accidents. 

Here’s what you need to know. 

OSHA Guidelines for Conveyor Safety

Much of the OSHA conveyor guarding focus is on workers who have close contact with the conveyors. OSHA requires protections near turning components and guarding underneath suspended conveyors that run over work areas, aisles, or thoroughfares. 

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) adds additional conveyor guarding guidelines and takes it back a step to protect against accidental access to the equipment. The ASME considers barriers, enclosures, grating, fences, or other obstructions that prevent physical contact with conveyor components. In essence, the guard protection starts before you access the conveyor and continues as you work with the equipment. Guards must ensure that employees cannot reach under, over, around, or through the guard. Any open access must be checked for compliance with ANSI/CSA safety standards. For example, they note specifically that hand railing is not a suitable guard because it doesn’t provide sufficient protection to pinch points.

Conveyer Belts in Warehouse

Conveyor Guarding Products

  • Side rail guards 
  • Conveyor corner guards
  • End stop
  • End caps
  • Leg guards
  • Padding (for curved side rails)
  • Goal posts
  • Safety Netting

Depending on the product and application, guards can be fixed, adjustable, interlocking, or self-adjusting. It simply depends on the type of conveyor and application. 

Apex is Your One-Stop-Shop for Conveyor Guarding & Warehouse Safety Products

Slide conveyer belt

Powered conveyors are a cost-effective, ergonomic, and productive way to move inventory, orders, raw materials, finished goods, and more. The Apex team regularly installs conveyor safeguards for all types of conveyor systems. We understand the different access required for your various applications, such as pick lines, inventory intake, finished goods packaging, etc. Each system functions uniquely, and therefore a one-size-fits-all approach is not what your team needs.

We offer full-service support from design & engineering to installation and safety inspection & repairs. The Apex PROs are at the ready to visit your facility and conduct a thorough safety inspection to offer damage repair solutions and preventative measures.

More than a team of professional warehouse safety auditors, we also give you access to our inspection tool –the Apex Rack Repair App. The App is free to download and easy to use. Just follow the prompts to collect precise details about any rack damage you find in your inspection, then upload your findings. The Apex PROs will assess the severity of your rack damage and provide any next steps to repair components quickly.

Try the Apex Rack Repair App today –Download free on and the App Store.