No matter how well crushing machines are designed to protect their operators from injury, manufacturers can never completely safeguard for moments of error, oversight, and even disregard. While it may be tempting to cut corners in order to avoid downtime, trying to save even a few minutes’ time could lead to serious injury or death.

Among the various components of rock crushing equipment, the hopper feeder could be regarded as the one that presents the most risk. After all, the hopper feeder attracts heavy vehicles that deposit large quantities of hard material for screening and crushing. With these dangers looming, it is crucial to regularly brush up on crushing safety recommendations and protocol.

One of the more proactive choices that any safety-conscientious operator can make to reduce risk is to remain vigilant. When operating stone crushing equipment or operating vehicles for depositing material, like rocks or concrete, into the hopper feeder, take time to assess the area for any potential issues, like workers too close to equipment or obstructions in the hopper feeder itself.

To prevent obstructions, the general size of each rock being fed into the hopper feeder needs to be assessed. It is recommended that any materials being fed into the hopper feeder should be at most 80% the size of the crusher opening into which the feeder processes material, often referred to as the F80 rule.