6 Tips for Properly Training Baler Operators

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Getting a baler for your company is a great way to reduce the amount of recyclable packaging wasted each year. However, like any piece of heavy machinery, operating balers can put workers at risk. As such, ensuring that your employees receive proper information, instruction, and training regarding the equipment’s operation is essential. If your business uses a baler, follow these tips for property training baler operators to keep your employees safe.

Employ qualified instructors

Qualified personnel such as a supervisor or experienced employees should lead all baler training programs. If there aren’t any eligible trainers at your company, you can outsource the responsibility to a service team that specializes in operator training.

Read the manual

In addition to completing a formal training program, you should also encourage employees to read the operating manuals for every piece of machinery they operate. By reading the manual, employees will have the most detailed and comprehensive knowledge about baling equipment.

Ensure employees meet essential standards

Before beginning any training session, it’s important to ensure that the employee satisfies operator standards and regulations. For example, all baler operators must be over the age of 18 according to FLSA Federal Law. Balers should also possess important qualities such as strong visual ability, alertness, and hand-eye-foot coordination.

Prioritize safety

When training employees on baler operation, safety should be a top priority. As such, you should familiarize your staff with essential safety requirements and standardized rules associated with balers. In addition, you should also teach your staff how to recognize machinery issues that could result in dangerous operating conditions.

Address the Lockout/Tagout procedure

The lockout tagout procedure refers to practices that protect employees from injury caused by accidental operation or energization of baling equipment. While lockout procedures use a lock to prevent unauthorized or accidental machinery usage, tagout practices warn personnel that they shouldn’t operate the equipment until an operator removes the tag. Ensuring that your employees follow these procedures will help reduce baler-related injuries.

Document the training

To ensure that all members of your operating staff have the proper qualifications, it’s important to document their training. Make sure to keep track of which training areas they have completed and consider providing operator certificates once they complete the program.

Continue training

Guidance shouldn’t end after employees complete their initial training program. Training on waste handling systems should be ongoing to account for changing conditions and to ensure that all employees are up-to-date on proper safety protocol. Even experienced baler operators should receive a periodical training refresher.

 

Considering the United States mishandles almost $11.4 billion worth of recyclable materials each year, it’s time you invest in a baler. As such, by properly training your employees to use this equipment, your company could make a huge impact.