Machinery and equipment

Machinery and equipment is widely used in the retail industry and includes:

trolleys
compactors
waste bins
dock levellers
meat slicers
carton crushers
dough mixers
chicken rotisseries
doughnut machines

Injury may occur when workers come into contact with the moving parts, or become trapped between moving parts, while using or cleaning machinery and equipment. Frequent, long term use or use other than that intended by the manufacturer can cause cuts, lacerations, burns, electric shock, eye damage and amputations.

Reducing the risk

The risk of injury can be reduced by:

following the manufacturers' instructions for safe use and cleaning
retrofitting older equipment with guards whenever possible
ensuring all guards are in place before equipment is used
re-designing machines so they can't be operated without guards in place
ensuring interlock guards are fitted to the front edge of all compactor units
ensuring that plant and equipment is properly maintained and repaired
using appliances and tools only for the purpose for which they are designed
ensuring under-counter compactors have a safety switch that prevents operation until a bin or trolley is in place
ensuring emergency off buttons are easily accessible and in working order
ensuring pressure vessels, such as coffee machines, are fitted with a low level cut-off device
ensuring equipment is fitted with safety valves, water level and pressure gauges where required
ensuring equipment is securely fixed to the bench
keeping cutting tools clean, sharp and well maintained
always putting sharp knives and tools away after use
providing appropriate personal protective equipment, safety instructions and signs for equipment
developing safe systems of work
developing and enforcing a system for reporting, removing from use, fixing or replacing defective equipment and the removal of 'DANGER' and 'OUT OF SERVICE' tags
developing a system for regular inspection and servicing
training workers in the safe use of machinery and what to do if someone gets caught in a machine
providing appropriate and accessible first aid equipment and trained first aid officers