Feature

Enabling safer operator-machine interactions through enhanced control of machine stoppages

As packaging line machinery has become more sophisticated, it’s also become more complex. This increased complexity, coupled with a high number of interactions between operators and machines, increases the potential for safety incidents.

03/02/2021 13:08:17

In the packaging world, for example, production lines may stop for manual loading 10-30 times per shift, each time necessitating some form of interaction that exposes operators to possible risk and increases the potential for a safety incident.

Guarding against these risks isn’t easy; when changes are made to improve a machine’s safety, operations can become even more complex or more restrictive. These safety measures often incorporate procedures to stop machine operation, isolate energy, resolve issues and restart processes – all of which translate into lost production time. Frustrated by these disruptions, operators may look to bypass safety measures to keep the line moving and meet throughput expectations – exposing themselves to unnecessary risk in the process.

The consequences can be significant: an operation can experience damage to equipment, unforeseen costs, loss of productivity from shutdowns – and most seriously, injury to its personnel and even loss of life. A recent study by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration reveals manufacturing accounted for 26 percent of all reported hospitalisations and 57 percent of all reported amputations – the highest proportions for all industries.

Read the full article in the February issue of DPA.

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.