De-strapper helps guard against compensation

A machine that removes straps from pallets is receiving a lot of interest because it reduces a potential hazard as well as freeing up the time of an operative.

claims Health and safety is becoming increasingly important for British businesses and with an increasing 'compensation culture', manufacturers, packers and producers need to ensure that they minimise the potential for accidents.

A new machine from 'Industrial Automation Ltd' that removes straps from pallets is receiving a lot of interest because it reduces a potential hazard as well as freeing up the time of an operative.

Bass Breweries are the first to incorporate the equipment to their production line.

Designed specifically for canning lines, the 'de-strapper' (or 'de-bander') removes the plastic straps from pallets of empty cans (approx 5000), collects and shreds them.

The manual process carries considerable risk because the operative must lean over a safety fence from a walkway to cut the straps - often from a distance that exceeds Health and Safety guidelines.

These straps must then be manually collected, which carries further risk as they are around eight metres long, are awkward to handle and there is a danger of cuts from sharp ends.

This laborious process can take around a third of the operative's time and is a major distraction.

In modern plants, high level control rooms can be a considerable walk from the de-strapping area, further increasing the time taken.

De-palletisers will stop if the operative does not attend.

Commenting on the new de-strapper, Stephen Miles, Sales Manager said, "This efficient piece of equipment can be installed for around GBP 75,000.

Not only will it improve the production line but could save much more than that in the event of a claim.

This is one area in which the potential for an accident is high.

If that happens, the flood gates will be opened for other potential claims".

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