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Belt Conveyor Guarding
Pulp & paper mills are some of the most complex industrial environments in the world. Between conveyors, pumps, refiners, rollers, and rotating equipment, there’s no shortage of moving parts. Add in high heat, airborne particulates, and corrosive chemicals, and it’s clear why safety is a top concern across the Pulp & Paper industry.
But while pulp & paper facilities focus heavily on production efficiency, safety risks too often stem from one overlooked area: inadequate guarding. A single accident not only puts workers at risk but can also shut down production lines, costing thousands — or even millions — in lost output.
Here are the top five safety risks in pulp & paper mills and how the right guarding solutions from Belt Conveyor Guarding (BCG) can help eliminate them.
The risk: Conveyors are essential in moving wood chips, pulp, and finished rolls — but they’re also one of the leading sources of injuries. Exposed pinch points, moving belts, and unguarded rollers can result in entanglement, crushing, or amputation.
The solution:
The risk: Pumps and rotating couplings drive critical processes, from chemical treatment to water circulation. Without proper guarding, exposed shafts and couplings can cause severe injuries if clothing, hair, or tools are caught.
The solution:
The risk: High-speed rotating machinery like refiners and chippers can be catastrophic if workers come into contact with moving parts. Even brief exposure is enough to cause life-threatening injuries.
The solution:
The risk: Pulp & paper mills often contain large mechanical rooms filled with fans, blowers, compressors, and HVAC equipment. These are often overlooked but pose serious risks when unguarded.
The solution:
The risk: Mills are high-traffic environments with wet floors, walkways, and ladders leading to multiple levels. Unauthorized or unsafe access to ladders, platforms, and maintenance areas can cause falls or expose workers to hazardous zones.
The solution:
In pulp & paper mills, safety and productivity go hand in hand. Inadequate guarding doesn’t just risk worker injury — it can lead to:
By choosing BCG’s industry-specific guarding solutions, pulp & paper companies can reduce safety risks, simplify maintenance, and keep production running without interruption.
Every risk in a pulp & paper mill is an opportunity to protect both workers and profits. The right guarding doesn’t just prevent accidents — it drives reliability, compliance, and long-term operational stability.
With over 35 years of expertise, Belt Conveyor Guarding (BCG) helps mills eliminate the top safety hazards while supporting efficient, continuous production.
Because in pulp & paper, the safest plants are also the most reliable.
Pulp & paper mills are some of the most hazardous industrial environments, with conveyors, pumps, refiners, and rotating equipment creating constant safety risks. This blog highlights the top five hazards and shows how Belt Conveyor Guarding’s OSHA/MSHA-compliant solutions reduce injuries, cut downtime, and keep mills safe, compliant, and productive.
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