On a belt conveyor that is not used for transportation of coal miners, at what distance are stop and start controls required to be installed?

• A. At least every 2000 foot
• B. At least every 500 foot
• C. At least every 1500 foot
• D. At least every 1000 foot

Answer: (D)

Stop and start controls are placed along a belt conveyor so that someone can quickly shut the belt down if there’s a jam, hazard, or other problem. For conveyors not used to transport coal miners, the standard is to have these control points at least every 1,000 feet. This spacing makes sure a supervisor or worker can reach a control without having to travel too far, which helps prevent injuries and further damage. If the belt runs longer than 1,000 feet, you’d place additional controls roughly at 1,000-foot intervals (e.g., around the 1,000-foot mark, the 2,000-foot mark, etc.). The other distances would either provide too frequent or too sparse coverage for safe shutdown.