3 tools to make belt conveyor maintenance safer and easier

Safe conveyor belt maintenance starts with choosing the right tools that have been engineered with safety as a top priority. While you can’t control all the variables that come with working in tough conditions – inclement weather, abrasive materials, etc. – you can control how you prepare for safe belt repairs. ?

Here are the top three tools that will make your belt repair process safer, easier and faster.

Tool 1: Conveyor Belt Lifters

Lifting a tensioned conveyor belt out of the way to do maintenance work is a difficult job. It can be both time-consuming and dangerous for operators. When lifting a conveyor belt without a safe support tool, there is a high risk of injuries because improper tools can fail, you’re working with suspended loads, and workers can become fatigued from manual handling. ?

The Flex-Lifter??Belt Lifter puts an end to pry bars and manual lifting. It is designed to support and lift conveyor belts up to 2400mm wide and has one of the highest safe lift capacities on the market - up to 2725kg. The versatile tool has adjustable wings that make it easy to lift troughed or flat topside belts. It truly makes a difficult and hazardous job easier and safer – check it out for yourself in this video of the belt lifter in operation.

Tool 2: Engineered Belt Clamps

In addition to locking and tagging out your belt conveyor system and wearing proper PPE, clamping your belt properly is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid a catastrophic event. It doesn’t matter if you are 50 meters off the ground or 50 meters underground, clamping is one of the most important safety precautions you can take during a repair. ?

Keep in mind that serious injuries are possible when clamping is done without using the proper tools and products – which has been explained in our blog homemade VS engineered belt clamps. TUG? HD? Belt Clamps are designed to secure the belt by clamping over it for greater strength in higher-load applications rated from 6- to 8-tonnes, making them ideal for mining applications. They are third-party tested, and the safety factors of clamp ratings meet or exceed industry standards. It’s time to say goodbye to homemade devices like c-clamps, lumber, and chains. ?

Tool 3: Electric Belt Cutters

Utility knives simply can’t provide the same level of safety, speed, and accuracy when cutting belts. Power assisted belt cutters minimise the danger of accidental injury during the belt cutting process and provide a smooth, accurate cut. For example, a safety-conscious power plant replaced their utility knives with a cordless belt cutter that reduced their average finger splice time to only 20-25 minutes and required only one worker to complete the job. ?

Available in both corded and cordless versions, Flexco Electric Belt Cutters quickly and easily cut all types of belting from the softest of natural rubbers to the hardest constructed solid woven PVC and fabric plied belts. The tool cuts up to 25mm thick on rubber belts and up to a maximum of 630 kN/m on PVC belts. Operators are protected by a spring-loaded blade guard and can feed the cutter into the belt with minimal effort because of the sealed ball bearings.?

TRAIN YOUR TEAM

Even well-designed and well-built maintenance tools can malfunction or become hazardous in the hands of an inexperienced or untrained user. Operators must be thoroughly trained before operating conveyor belt lifters, belt clamps and electric belt cutters. Flexco is currently offering free demonstrations on any of the three maintenance tools by trained Flexco personnel. Book a free demonstration to ensure you provide maximum safety for all operating personnel, and to get a maximum benefit from your equipment.