Best Practices in Conveyor Risk Assessment: A Qualitative Study of Certified Safety Professionals in Industrial Settings

Background: This qualitative study examined the best practices for conducting risk assessments in industrial environments, with a specific focus on evaluating hazards associated with conveyors. Five Certified Safety Professionals (CSPs) who managed facilities with conveyors in Iowa were selected. Each CSP brought a diverse educational and safety background, representing various industries and safety perspectives, with industry experience ranging from 13 to 32 years. Methods: Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with each of the five CSPs. Transcripts were thematically evaluated using NVivo (‘NVivo’ 1994) and a grounded theory approach. Results: The key themes in this study included hazard identification during routine, maintenance, and non-routine tasks (i.e., cleaning and troubleshooting), training of in-house employee auditors, utilizing cross-functional auditors, and industry safety standards. Conclusion: This study concluded that effective hazard assessments included trained employees for conducting assessments, cross-functional teams with a diverse range of knowledge, and customized assessments that reflect the best practices within their organization to assess conveyor hazards.