On the crushing job site, unforeseen issues can present themselves in a variety of ways that can negatively impact operations, and it is important to be prepare for these situations to address them quickly and remain up and crushing.
One unlikely problem for production that can crop up if left unregulated is an obstruction occurring in a portable plant’s impactor or jaw crusher. If an obstruction occurs, it is critical to resolve the situation as safely as possible.
A helpful start to clearing obstructions is to prevent them from developing in the first place, generally accomplished by managing the size of material and the rate at which it flows into the crusher to avoid unwanted buildups and jams.
If an obstruction happens to occur, it is vital to work swiftly and carefully to ensure the situation does not become dangerous by halting the flow of material and shutting down all the components of the portable plant immediately.
After shutdown, the crusher itself may continue to rotate, it is important to let the crusher come to a stop on its own and not attempt in any way to forcibly slow or stop it as serious injury or death can result. Once the crusher has stopped, it should be secured by means of pins or chains, depending on the situation. Only then can attempts to clear the obstruction begin.
In any circumstance, no team member should physically enter the impactor or jaw crusher to clear an obstruction. Just as well, it is beneficial to have additional team members provide supervision while the crusher is being cleared.
The most ideal method of clearing an obstruction is by breaking it apart with a hydraulic breaker or extracting it through other mechanical means to resolve the issue. It can be helpful to clear away any excess, loose material to access the major blockage more effectively.
From start to finish, it is imperative to follow lockout / tagout procedure and have team members positioned in safe areas, should the obstruction or fragments become projectiles from any remaining energy buildup in the machine.
It is important to note that obstructions in a crusher can present an extremely hazardous situation and should be taken seriously by operators and other team members to avoid life-threatening injuries.
For more information on clearing obstructions from portable impactor and jaw crusher plants, we encourage you to contact our Eagle Crusher service department and speak with a Team Eagle representative.
This article does not serve as an official safety recommendation by Eagle Crusher and should not be viewed as such. All relevant staff should consult their owner’s manual before operating Eagle Crusher equipment, or any other manufacturer’s equipment, and comply with the safety guidelines therein.
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