Drawing-in and trapping hazards

Types of machine

• Round balers
• Mobile wood chippers
• Haulm rollers, e.g. potato harvesters, hop processors
• Feed mixers
• Forage harvesters
• Pick-ups on balers, forage harvesters and combine harvesters have intakes that include reels fitted with tines. These tines can easily catch on clothing and may draw people into the machine.

Operator error

• Reaching into discharge ends through the outlet chute
• Reaching in through inspection hatches
• Impatience to clear a blockage before machinery has stopped moving
• Getting clothes or fingers too close to in-running nip points.
• Tines catch on loose-fitting clothing

Design points

• Design intakes so that moving parts cannot be reached, or fit them with fixed distance guards.
• Fit controls to allow power to the intakes to be quickly isolated and make maintenance, adjustment, cleaning or unblocking operations safe.
• Reverse drive mechanisms may allow blockages to be cleared without any intervention by an operator
• Provide appropriate tools and methods to clear blockages safely.
• Design discharge ends and inspection hatches with appropriate reach distances, or fit them with fixed distance guards, so that moving parts cannot be reached.
• If the operator can reach moving parts when they open or remove discharge chutes or inspection hatches, provide interlocks to isolate the power and bring the moving parts to a halt before they can be reached.
• Design rotating parts to avoid unnecessary projections or irregular shapes.
• Fit nip points, which for practical reasons cannot be guarded by fixed enclosing guards, with nip bars or plates.
• Use fixed guards to prevent access to moving parts that are not ‘safe by position’. Fixed guards must require the use of a tool to open or remove and their fixings should generally remain attached to either the guard or machine when removed.
• If access is needed that precludes the use of fixed guards, use interlocking guards.

Operator instructions and training

Instructions for using this type of machinery must include clear guidance on:

• Safe methods of work to clear blockages
• Stopping machinery before reaching in
• Keeping guards in position
• Wearing appropriate clothing without loose cords
• Relevant training, e.g. Lantra qualification and accreditation.

Find out more

• Power take-offs and power take-off drive shafts AS24
• Safe use of big round balers AIS4
• Safe use of potato harvesters AIS13
• Safe use of forage harvesters AIS24