Recently had an inspection from OSHA and they pointed out a requirement to have guards surrounding the Belt Filter Press. THis would not allow operators to visualize what is happening in the press in order to make adjustments etc. Has anyone else been required to fully "encapsulate" thier BFP? If so what measures have you taken to monitor the press operation - also are Belt Filter Press being constructed with this add on to meet this requiremnt?

TerriPelletier

Cytec Industries

Hi Terry, we have not been caught but yes, now that you mention it this has been in effect for approx. the last four or five years and quite frankly if the Inspector says do it, then do it or face the consequences. I'm sure there would be a way to encapsulate it and when required to check the belt press it would have to be stopped or designed in a way that visual contact can still be maintained (preferably). There are alot of pieces of equipment here that need to be up-dated as far as machine gaurding goes. The only thing I can see is if you contact the manufacterer, this little Item will increase the price enormously for future puchasers. You should be able to have a guard fabricated by one of the local fabrication companies when they come in to do a quote, tell them exactly what you need and before they fabricate it make sure you take a good look at the drawings of what they plan on making.(then patent it)LOL

regards, D.Mak