Why It’s Essential To Observe Proper Safety Measures When Working With Batching Plants

When you work on construction sites with heavy-duty construction equipment like batching plants, you can never be too safe or take too many precautions.

Construction equipment creates potentially hazardous conditions, which can be extremely dangerous, so it’s paramount that everyone on the job site follows the safety protocol and is trained on how to use the machinery.

Important Safety Procedures:

• Everyone who will be operating the concrete batching plant should be trained on how to use it correctly and should be well versed in the safety procedures and the emergency protocol. As if an emergency occurs and the batching plant needs to be shut off immediately, everyone on-site must know how to turn off the batching plant using the emergency shut off switch.
   
• On-site batching plants must be located where they will not pose a hazard to the environment or where it could affect the local community living within close proximity to the construction site.
   
• Procedures must be put in place to reduce dust emissions as much as possible. For example, covering the top of the bins containing cement and other aggregates or having dust suppression systems fitted.
   
• Control rooms should be located a safe distance from where the loading and mixing of cement occurs, to avoid breathing in the dust that’s created during the weight batching process. 
   
• Any electrical installations on the batching plant must be installed by a certified and competent electrician.
   
• Batching plants are fitted with belts, rollers and chains, which must be properly guarded to prevent the crushing of limbs. Adequate guarding can be provided by using mesh or panels to stop access to these areas of the batching plant.
   
• Wearing protective clothing is a must on construction sites. The strict dress code is in place for a reason, there are many hazardous materials and heavy-duty equipment which can be dangerous in inexperienced hands or if a fault occurs.
  
  Exposure to cement dust can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and the upper respiratory system. So make sure the appropriate headgear and eyewear are worn at all times on site.
   
• Do not eat or drink where cement dust is present, and always wash your hands before you eat. To make sure cement dust isn’t being ingested, protective clothing worn while operating a batching plant should be removed when eating or returning home at the end of a workday.

Remember, the quality of your equipment directly affects how safe your job site will be, which is why it is best to purchase or hire equipment from a reputable company that offers a comprehensive after-sales, spare parts and maintenance service.

Contact Utranazz today and let our excellent team take you through all the features of the different batching plants we stock, so we can help you decide which piece of equipment is the right fit for your project requirements. Tel: 01280 820770 or email: [email protected]