Safety Tip of the Week – Compactor and Baler Safety

Compactor and Baler Safety

Compacting and baling machines have uses in many industries, but are involved in a number of fatalities and serious injuries. Many workers have been killed while attempting to clear a jam from an operating compactor, or inadvertently activating equipment that was not properly de-energized.

Safety precautions:

• Regularly inspect the baler or compacter prior to operations to verify it appears to be in proper working order.

• Confirm that safety guards, gates, and screens on the baler or compactor are functioning, and the machine does not operate when these are open.

• Ensure operators are all over the age of 18 and no one under the age of 18 is allowed in the area where the machine is while it is in operation.

• Never climb inside the machine or insert a hand or leg to try to resolve a problem with jammed or stuck materials.

• If the machine has been tagged or marked that it needs repair, do not operate it.

• Never attempt to fix a broken machine yourself, unless you have been trained and certified to perform maintenance and repairs on your compactors.

• Wear safety gloves, goggles, earplugs, and hardhats as needed when working around, operating, and using waste balers and compactors.

• Require authorized operators to enter a passcode into a keypad in order to operate the machine.

• Always leave the machine in the “off” position whenever it is not in use.

  Don’t let a compactor or baler put the squeeze on your safety!!