Heavy equipment manufacturers

System Used by Some Heavy Equipment Manufacturers... 

Hazard analysis and risk assessment systems have been used for many years by certain heavy equipment manufacturers (HEM) in their design processes to achieve inherently safer products. Keep in mind that their principle concern in using the risk assessment method described here is product safety and the avoidance of injury to users of their equipment, or to bystanders. There are variations in the terms used in the several versions of this industry s Hazard Analysis System. In one version, these are the Risk Assessment Variables ... 

Oil formulated for heavy diesel use and tailored to exceed both industrial specifications and equipment manufacturers requirements. 

Production of polysulfide sealant basically involves mixing and dispersion. Therfore, the equipment used in coating and ink manufacture is applicable to sealant manufacture. Viscosities of up to 60,000 P are common in polysulfide sealant, and therefore heavy equipment is generally used in its manufacture. Typical useful equipment includes sigma blade mixers, kneader-extruders, and high-speed dispersators. A three-roll paint mill gives... 

And these observations are pertinent, and the points made apply to other industries. In discussions with a safety director in a chemical company, he said that when the system is mnning, the risks are lower when we have to open up the system for maintenance or have an equipment failure or a chemical release, severity potential is greatly increased. A safety director for a heavy electrical equipment manufacturer said that severe injuries in his worldwide company seldom occur in routine production operations. 

The OSHA rules only generalize when it conies to inspection of heavy equipment, and they just cover safety equipment. The best source for inspection criteria is manufacturer s documentation. If that documentation does not have a comprehensive checklist, then you should assemble your own from the operating instructions and maintenance procedures. 

For workers who are tasked to operate equipment, whether that equipment is heavy equipment on a construction site or presses or equipment used in a manufacturing process, the worker needs to perform a prework inspection of this equipment. For workers who are asked to operate mobile equipment such as trucks, forklifts. Bobcats, skidloaders, and the like, a written pretrip inspection must take place. Although there are a variety of ways to document this pretrip inspection, I recommend that the inspection be recorded on a prenumbered pad containing pressure-sensitive carbons with at least the original and one copy. 

Given that long lead heavy equipment prototype manufacturing was 2 to 3 years away... 

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