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4 Machine-related safety precautions
The workplaces are spread over various areas of the
potting machine.
a) Feeding pots into the rotating assembly (for a
machine without pot dispenser) or feeding pots into
the pot dispenser (for machines with pot dispenser)
on the right side of the panel.
b) Filling the soil hopper with substrate from the rear
or from the right or left side.
c) Potting plants on the front left of the panel,
between drilling stand and pot transfer.
Alternatively, they can also be potted on the
conveyor belts.
Responsibilities for the various activities must be
clearly defined and complied with.
Unclear competencies represent a safety risk.
Persons who are engaged in putting single pots into
the rotating assembly must have been given
separate training, during which it was pointed out to
them that there is a potential danger of being drawn
into the machine if they got stuck at the rotating
assembly.
For procedural reasons it is not possible for the
rotating assembly to be covered.
When potting at the rotating assembly, there is a
potential hazard of getting stuck in there due to
carelessness or wearing further additional clothing or
jewellery.
In case of malfunctions during the workflow, it is
forbidden to touch the running machine in order to
resolve the malfunction.
It must always be possible to access the emergency
cut-off switch.
The emergency cut-off switch should always be
located on the relevant workplace (during normal
operation preferably on the panel, next to the right of
the worker).
It is forbidden to climb onto the running machine.
The machine must be set up on even and solid
surface so that it stands securely in place.
There is danger of life in case the machine is falling
over.
The floor (workplaces at the machine and traffic
routes) must be regularly cleaned from dirt and water
in order to avoid danger of slipping.
Stumbling blocks in the form of cables connected to
the energy supply systems must be avoided.
All feed lines to the machine must be protected
against damage.
Only a skilled electrician is allowed to carry out works
on the electrical equipment.
Protection devices
•
are fitted for the safety of operating personnel
•
must in no case be changed, removed or evaded
by modifications to the machine.
Frequency converters can cause fault currents that
are not detected by means of a standard earth
leakage circuit breaker. So the machine may be
