Associate Safety Professional Practice Exam

What is the best course of action to protect employees from hazards posed by a conveyor belt with rotating rods?

1. Increase employee training on safety

2. Install a sound alarm to warn employees

3. Attach a guard covering the ends of the rods

4. Implement a work shift rotation

The correct answer is: Attach a guard covering the ends of the rods

Attaching a guard covering the ends of the rods is the most effective course of action to protect employees from hazards posed by a conveyor belt with rotating rods. This physical guarding method directly mitigates the risk of injury by preventing accidental contact with the rotating parts, which could lead to serious injuries such as entanglement or lacerations. Effective safety measures often prioritize engineering controls, such as guards, over administrative controls like training or work rotations, as they provide a physical barrier that can significantly reduce the likelihood of an incident occurring in the first place. By using guards, the hazard itself is minimized, effectively reducing employee exposure to risk. This proactive measure aligns with the principle of minimizing hazards at the source, ensuring that the working environment is safer for all employees. While increasing training on safety can enhance awareness and help employees understand the risks associated with the conveyor belt, it does not eliminate the hazard. Similarly, installing a sound alarm might alert workers to danger, but it does not prevent contact with the hazardous components. Implementing a work shift rotation may help reduce fatigue, but it does not directly address the fundamental safety issue posed by the conveyors. Hence, integrating guards is the most suitable approach to ensure employee safety in this scenario.