There are few places more dangerous than a saw mill. They have large cutting blades in motion throughout the day, they have large tree trunks being split constantly, and they have lots of vulnerable workers who can easily be cut, crushed, or squashed if they aren’t careful.
It really is a hazardous industry
But, all is not lost. A saw mill can be nice and safe if both the owners and the employees understand some very basic safety guidelines and take steps to follow those guidelines. Let’s take a look at some of them, really quickly, so we can be certain we are keeping the sawmill accident-free.
Use those warning signals!
Saw mills should have a large number of warning signals in place to help alert employees to potential danger. If your mill doesn’t have any, your employees may be in danger. More important than securing those warning signals is knowing when to use them. Instruct your employees to sound a warning alarm even if something only appears to be dangerous. It is much better to be safe than sorry, and a safe working environment can only occur if both you and your employees are wary of danger. So use those warning signals, and use them often.
Don’t skip out on the blade guards
A number of machines at a saw mill have sharp, pointy blades (obviously) – that’s just part of the saw mill experience. To prevent unwanted death by laceration, most mills make use of blade guards that serve as a barrier between mill personal and the moving blades. These guards can fall into disrepair if they are not properly maintained, potentially turning into a serious injury risk. It’s sound advice to be absolutely certain that your mill’s blade guards are not neglected. Inspect every machine that involves a blade regularly. If it looks like an accident is possible, fix those blade guards or install new ones.
Lumber piles shouldn’t fall
One lumber pile falling down overnight every once and a while cannot be helped, but a pile should never be stacked haphazardly on purpose. Saw mill foremen are usually careful to instruct their employees on proper lumber stacking techniques, but sometimes aren’t as able to ensure that the employees consistently use those techniques. Checking the stacks regularly can help lessen the risk of accidents occurring, but making sure that the logs are stacked correctly from the beginning is priority number one. Watch your employees as they stack and offer constructive criticism afterwords. Lots of little pushes towards the right direction add up.
Check Machine Hydraulics
One of the best ways to practice saw mill safety is to complete any repairs in a timely manner. Issues with the hydraulic systems in a saw mill can lead to nasty results that may injure employees or damage sensitive equipment. Get in touch with Smith’s Hydraulics if you have any problems fixing hydraulic issues, we’re professionals and a family company, we can help you out for sure.