Conveying information increases safety

In the Danpo poultry slaughterhouse, the conveyor belt motor bears four large Instrumeter displays. They display the motor state, and are visible from any point in the production hall.

At Danpo, production is synonymous with conveyor belts. Now and again, the conveyor belts are are blocked by organic material, and production halts. When the material is removed, the belts automatically roll again, unhindered. Production is resumed.

It sounds very simple, but there was a catch: In theory, the main motor should be shut down, every time the belts stopped. In practice, it was often considered too time-consuming. If the offending material could be easily removed, a practiced hand would do so, and everyone could get on with their work. The motor was only shut down for larger cleaning operations.

The discomforting factor was that the individual worker could be unsure of the state of the motor while cleaning the belt. Misunderstandings could lead to serious injury, so the uncertainty was a very real factor in the day-to-day work.

Today the problem is solved by large displays, that show the state of the motor. The solution is simple, technically uncomplicated, and inexpensive. The result: improved safety, improved production process, improved job satisfaction.