1. Provide Automated Strapping Machine Safety Training
Knowledge is power, and your team needs to know how to act safely. The right training is key to helping your team use any machine in a safe manner.
Talk to your strapping machine supplier about training. They should be able to provide safety manuals. The best suppliers also offer additional safety information, and they may even provide training workshops for your team.
2. Provide the Right Personal Safety Equipment
When your team strapped by hand, they likely work some protective gear as part of their warehouse dress code. Safety glasses protect their eyes in case a piece of strapping goes flying. Gloves protected their hands from cutters and sealers. Steel-toed boots give them added protection if they happened to drop something.
You may not think your team requires as much protective gear when they work with the automated strapping machine, but it’s still a good idea to provide personal protective equipment for your operators. You never know when a piece of plastic or steel strapping will sheer off at the wrong angle or when someone will need to move a heavy load.
3. Maintain the Machine
One aspect of safety you might not have thought of is machine maintenance. Automated strapping machines that are well-maintained are actually safer to use.
Your operators should perform some basic maintenance every day. Before use, make sure the machine is clean. A dirty machine could get jammed or apply strapping incorrectly, requiring input from the operator and increasing the risk of injury.
Machines should also be checked for wear and tear on parts. Cutters can get dull, and sealers may get too hot. By performing regular maintenance, your team can spot any issues before they become hazards.
Finally, the straps packing the product coming off the machine should be inspected periodically. You want to make sure the straps are holding securely. The tension must be correct and the sealing efficiency inspected. Any deterioration could be an indication the machine needs to be adjusted before an accident occurs.
The right automated strapping machine can help you improve safety, especially when your team knows how to use it the right way.
