A daily, weekly, monthly and yearly inspection schedule spots conveyor wear before it stops the line. But a schedule is only worth something if the tasks are done safely: tensioning, lubricating and cleaning a conveyor are done with the conveyor stopped and locked out. Here is the basic schedule, how to adapt it to your equipment and the rules to follow. For warning signs, see also five signs a conveyor is about to fail.
Key takeaways
- A preventive maintenance schedule spots conveyor wear before it stops the line.
- Tensioning, lubrication, cleaning near moving parts and unjamming are done with the conveyor stopped and locked out, according to the plant procedure.
- The schedule is a starting point to adapt: frequency depends on the material conveyed, speed, load and operating hours.
- A maintenance log shows which parts wear fastest and which to keep in stock.
Before any inspection: stop and lock out the conveyor
A running conveyor can catch a hand, clothing or a tool. Before adjusting, unjamming, cleaning near moving parts or lubricating, stop it and control its energy. In Quebec, the employer must lock out or apply an energy-control method offering equivalent safety before any work in the hazardous zone of a machine (section 196 of the RSST).
Tasks that require a stopped conveyor
In the schedule below, these tasks are done with the conveyor stopped and locked out:
- checking belt or chain tension;
- lubricating bearings and chains;
- cleaning debris near moving parts;
- unjamming;
- replacing parts and alignment.
Listening and looking are done from a distance, with the conveyor running, without entering the hazardous zone. When in doubt, stop and lock out.
The procedure belongs to the employer, who must write it, supply the lockout equipment, train workers and coordinate the work. When several people are involved, each applies their own lock. If no procedure covers your conveyor, do not improvise: contact your health and safety lead.
Guards: put them back and keep them in good condition
Guards make moving parts inaccessible. The employer must keep the machine and its protective devices in good condition. A replacement guard must offer at least equivalent safety to the original. After each job, the guards go back on before restarting. In case of non-compliance, a CNESST inspector can order work stopped or seal a machine.
Conveyor maintenance schedule: daily, weekly, monthly, yearly
Here is a working base, to adapt to your conveyor and its manufacturer's recommendations.
| Frequency | Tasks | Stop and lockout |
|---|---|---|
| Every day | Listen: a new squeal, clatter or noise often signals a tiring bearing or chain. Watch whether the belt stays centred: a drifting belt wears its edges and the frame. Clean debris and product residue, especially in food plants. | Listening and looking: from a distance, conveyor running. Cleaning near moving parts: stopped and locked out. |
| Every week | Check belt or chain tension. Inspect modular belts: cracked modules, worn rods, missing links. Check guides, side rails and guards. | Yes |
| Every month | Lubricate bearings and chains according to the manufacturer, with food-grade lubricant if product is exposed. Check sprocket and roller wear. Test emergency stops and sensors. | Yes for lubrication and wear. Emergency stop test: according to plant procedure. |
| Every year, or during a planned shutdown | Replace wear parts before they break: bearings, sprockets, guides. Check full alignment. Inspect the motor and gearbox: temperature, vibration, oil leaks. Check welds and structure, especially in areas washed often. | Yes |
Adapting the schedule to your conveyor
The right frequency depends on the material conveyed, belt speed, load and operating hours. A conveyor running continuously under heavy load needs more inspections than one used lightly and intermittently. The more critical the equipment is to your line, the more often you inspect. The manufacturer's manual takes precedence over any generic schedule.
Replace wear parts before they break
A bearing replaced during a planned shutdown is prepared work, with the part in hand. A bearing that seizes during production can also damage the shaft and sprocket, and stop the whole line. Preventive maintenance turns costly emergencies into planned work.
Keep the fastest-wearing parts in stock: your log will tell you which. For a guide or rail to reproduce or adapt, a shop can make custom metal parts in steel or stainless.
Keep a maintenance log
Record every job: date, conveyor, task done, part replaced, observation and the person's name. After a few months, you will see which parts wear fastest and can keep the right ones in stock. A simple sheet, printed or digital, is enough.
When to call a maintenance service
Call an outside service when what you observe goes beyond what your team can safely handle, or when the part is not in stock. Alliance Maintenance Industrielle offers a preventive maintenance program, conveyor system repair and a 24/7 emergency service everywhere in Quebec. If a conveyor's structure or welds are involved, our industrial welding team can step in. And if the line has already stopped, see what to do in the first hour.
FAQ: conveyor preventive maintenance
How often should a conveyor be inspected?
Following a basic schedule: a daily walk-around (noise, belt tracking, debris), then weekly, monthly and yearly checks. The actual frequency depends on the material, speed, load and operating hours, and the manufacturer's manual takes precedence.
Does the conveyor have to be stopped to inspect or lubricate it?
Listening and looking are done from a distance with the conveyor running. To check tension, lubricate, clean near moving parts or unjam, stop and lock out according to the plant procedure.
What is the difference between preventive and corrective maintenance?
Preventive maintenance follows a schedule, before the breakdown. Corrective maintenance repairs after the breakdown, usually urgently and during production.
What goes into a conveyor maintenance log?
The date, the conveyor, the task done, the part replaced, observations and the name of the person who did the work. It helps identify the parts that wear fastest.
What signs announce a conveyor breakdown?
A new squeal or clatter, a drifting belt, cracked modules or missing links on a modular belt. As soon as one of these signs appears, plan a check rather than waiting.
How do you maintain a conveyor in a food plant?
Clean debris and product residue regularly, use a food-grade lubricant if product is exposed and keep a close eye on welds and structure in areas washed often.
A maintenance program for your conveyors?
A conveyor that stops blocks the whole line. Call Alliance Maintenance Industrielle at 438-357-8800 for a preventive maintenance program or a 24/7 emergency call.
Sources
- CNESST — Exposure to hazardous zones of a machine (in French)
- Quebec Regulation respecting occupational health and safety (RSST), chapter S-2.1, r. 13
- CNESST — Guide on lockout and other energy control methods (in French)
Photo: Alliance Maintenance Industrielle. This article is for information only: the regulations, your plant's procedure and the manufacturer's recommendations take precedence. For a specific case, consult your prevention advisor or the CNESST.