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Is a waste baler safe in use for employees?
29 september 2021
Is a waste baler a safe machine to use with no risk of injuries to the operator? Which safety standards should the machine meet and what does this mean in practice?
Are balers dangerous? Let's debunk the myth!
Are balers machines that endanger employees? Absolutely not - as long as they come from a reliable manufacturer and are used properly! Bramidan balers - with both automatic and manual door types - are machines made safe by design and manufactured in accordance with the latest safety standards, which guarantee comfortable, efficient and, above all, safe operation for the user.
It is worth checking whether the baler you want to invest in has been made in accordance with the EN 16500 safety standard, and whether it will not pose a threat to your employees. What is this standard and why should you choose certified machines?
1. Operation not possible with open door
The door switch in our balers is tamper proof, which means that the machine cannot run with an open door. This is why you must open and close the filling door after each press cycle.
2. Double-secured malfunction system
The door switch does not allow operation of the baler with an open door. But in case the door switch should break, the control unit takes over as backup. In this way any malfunction is double-checked and activation of the press plate denied.
3. Strong spindle for controlled opening of main door
The baler has a strong threaded spindle for safe and steady opening of the main door. This prevents the lower door from opening too fast, which could cause serious injuries.
4. Safe two-handed operation
You can only eject the bale by pushing two buttons exactly at the same time and this cannot be be tampered with (accuracy Δ t 0.5 sec).
5. Safe ejection of compacted bale
Using a two-hand ejection system, the user is safely placed on the side of the baler when ejecting the finished bale. This is a safe position with at good overview when the finished bale comes out of the chamber.
6. No risk of bale tumbling
The speed of bale ejection onto the pallet or floor must be controllable. To avoid a full height bale turning over more than 90 degrees when it is ejected.
7. The lowest possible noise level
The noise level must be reduced to the lowest possible level. Bramidan balers have the lowest noise levels on the market.
What is EN 16500 and why is it important for operator safety?
The EN 16500 standard is a set of safety standards introduced by the CEN European Committee for Standardization to protect users of balers and vertical presses. This standard defines stringent requirements for the design and technological solutions implemented in balers, the main goal of which is to provide users of waste balers with safety at every stage of machine operation.
The standards set out in the EN 16500 standard, specify technological solutions for all elements of the baler, in particular: the baling chamber, the ejector mechanism, control panels, noise reduction, bale ejection area, emergency stop systems, labels and operating instructions, as well as any potential hazards that could occur towards the operator.
Balers made safe by design
Safety is our main focus when designing and producing our balers. Besides the EN16500 standard, all our balers meet and exceed the very strict ANSI and OSHA standards when sent to customers in the USA.
When you purchase one of our balers, you can rest assured that you're investing in the highest level of safety. You can rely on our vertical balers and feel absolutely safe while operating and compacting waste.
Why choose balers in accordance with the EN 16500 standard?
What does it mean in practice that a given press has been made in accordance with the standards of EN 16500? In accordance with European requirements, vertical balers should be equipped with the following technological and design:
1. Operation only with the baler door closed
Operation is impossible with the baler door left open. This reduces the risk of starting the press when the door is open, which could result in the operator's limbs or clothing being pinched.
In the case of a baler with a manual door like the standard door or vertical baler door (VD-door), you can only open the baler door after the end of the waste pressing cycle.
If you have a baler with an automatic baler door (AD-door), the door automatically closes and opens again when the start button is pushed and the press cycle is completed. Notice: if anything hinders the automatic door in closing, for example a cardboard box or the operator's hand, the door immediately returns to its fully open position, without doing any harm.
2. Double verification of failure
A door switch prevents the machine from operating with the door open. However, it is not the only safeguard. In case the door switch should brake, the control unit will act as an additional fault verifier and stop the baler from working and causing injuries. In this way any irregularities are double-checked, which reduces the risk of the baler press plate being activated in case of a machine malfunction.
3. Strong spindle providing full control of door opening
The baler is equipped with a strong spindle that prevents the door from opening too quickly - which could injure the operator. The threaded spindle takes care of maintaining steady and full control over the opening of the baler door, guaranteeing the operator a high safety when operating the machine.
4. Safe ejection of the pressed bale
According to EN16500 the speed at which the bale is ejected onto a pallet or floor must be controlled and not too fast. Moreover, each Bramidan waste baler prevents the bale from turning more than 90 degrees when being ejected from the chamber. This reduces the risk of the bale continuing its roling movement across the pallet and onto the floor.
5. The lowest level of noise during operation
In order to maintain the best possible working environment, the machines should generate the lowest possible noise during operation. Bramidan balers have the lowest noise levels in the market. Check the individual noise level for each machine here - click on the baler you want to check. Thanks to this, we provide operators with a comfortable and friendly workplace.
Choose a safe waste baler!
As a manufacturer and distributor of high quality presses and balers, we make sure that our products meet the required safety standards. This article is devoted to the EN16500 standard. It is also worth mentioning about other standards for waste management equipment - EN16252 and EN16486. The main assumptions of these standards are:
When you buy balers that comply with the latest standards, you can be sure that they provide operators with the highest possible level of ergonomics and best working environment. It is also a guarantee of comfortable, safe, intuitive and simple operation of the baler. Do you want to know more? Get to know our wide product range and choose from a wide range of up-to-date waste compacting machines.
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