Jaw crushers are used both in the mining industry to produce metals and in aggregate quarries to produce building materials. This is a very important piece of equipment that requires a certain amount of experience to handle and maintain. Strict safety measures must be observed before, during and after the machine’s operation, or in an emergency should a breakdown occur This article looks at the potential risks and measures to adopt, as set out in the user guide drawn up by the University of California (SOP-JawCrusher.Pdf, n.d.).
Potential Hazards and Injuries
- Hair/clothing/gloves/limbs getting caught in moving jaws (entrapment or amputation possible).
- Flying rock chips and dust (eye injury).
- Struck by ejected objects e.g., too-large rocks (blunt trauma).
- Silica dust inhalation (respiratory damage).
Wearing personal protective equipment
- Safety glasses must be worn when operating this equipment.
- Long and loose hair must be contained.
- Hearing protection required when operating this equipment.
- Respiratory protection must be worn.
- Sturdy closed-toe shoes must be worn.
- Gloves must not be worn during operation.
Pre-Operational Safety Checks
- Locate and ensure you are familiar with all machine operations and controls.
- Ensure that the wall-mounted dust collection system is turned on before starting the crusher.
- Position the dust collection intake near the output of the crusher.
- De-energize and lock-out machine before attempting any maintenance or when adjusting jaw plate distance.
- Ensure sample materials have been reduced to appropriate size to avoid getting stuck or kicking back from crusher.
- Ensure sample collection tray is in place under crusher output.
- Put on required PPE before using equipment.
Safe Practices During Operation
- Before making adjustments or before removing the sample collection tray, switch off and bring the machine to a complete standstill.
- Feed samples slowly and with care into the hopper to ensure thorough processing.
- Use the cover plate to block the hopper while samples are being processed.
- Keep long hair, clothing, and limbs away from the moving pieces of the crusher.
Ending Operations and Cleaning Up
- Switch off the machine and wait until the jaws come to a complete stop.
- Switch off the dust collection unit.
- Thoroughly clean jaws, input hopper, and output to avoid contamination.
- Leave the machine in a safe, clean, and tidy state.
- Use the shop vac, if necessary, to clean up rock debris on the floor.
Note: Don’t use faulty equipment. Immediately report suspect equipment. Never leave machine running unattended. Do not attempt to unjam stuck rocks while the machine is running.
Reference
SOP-JawCrusher.pdf. (n.d.). Retrieved April 28, 2025, from https://www.csun.edu/sites/default/files/SOP-JawCrusher.pdf
