What Are the top Dos and Don'ts of Baler Safety?

Balers are designed to be easy to use, cutting down on technical jargon and long manuals with diagrams for a thousand buttons. At the end of the day, if you’ve employed the use of a baler for your business the odds of taking a large amount of time to pour over lengthy instructions are slim considering this is eating into time that could be spent actually running your business which, in essence, is what a baler is ultimately for: saving time and money.

That said, there are certain safety regulations in place with balers that should be observed so as to avoid injury. A general knowledge on the operation of any given baler will eliminate a lot of risks to begin with, so ensure you and any staff are familiar with how yours works before attempting to use it.

Do:

Remove the key from the switch when the baler is not in use
Carry out a proper inspection before use to identify any potential safety issues
Shut the baler door and tighten the clamp before operation to avoid accidents due to slips, if you are dealing with a baler with this function (see the mini balers)
If required, insert baling strap correctly without twisting, ensuring it is the correct banding for the material
Ensure you have the correct equipment on-hand to ‘bale out’, such as a pallet or lift trolley
Have your baler inspected and serviced annually by a professional technician to ensure longevity

Don’t:

Attempt operation without full knowledge and training – a safe operating procedure (SOP) is generally available as a print on the machine itself or as an online document
Press the emergency lock-out switch unless necessary (familiarise yourself with where this is located if the need for use arises)
Attempt to fix a baler in any way if you are not professionally authorised and qualified to do so
Leave a baler on or operational without someone to oversee. This will prevent anyone coming upon the baler, interfering and subsequently injuring themselves
Unload (or, ‘bale out’) without ensuring the baler is turned off and that you have the proper unloading equipment to hand