guidance note safe use of meat band saws...

Guidance Note

Safe use of meat band saws

This information sheet and table provides practical advice to employers about controllinghazards whilst using meat band saws

October 2010

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Background

Meat band saws are commonly used in the meatindustry for portioning meat and other products.

In Victoria, meat band saws have been associatedwith a number of serious incidents. Those injuredhave included both experienced and nonexperienced operators.

Main hazards

The most common causes of injury on band sawsare:

Lacerations and amputations of fingerswhen working in close proximity to theblade

Lacerations and amputations of fingerswhen operators are distracted whilstcutting

Lacerations whilst changing or fitting bandsaw blade

Musculoskeletal disorders from repetitionof task and forcing product through thesaw blade

Employers must provide a safe work environmentfor workers by implementing adequate controls toall identified hazards.

How to use the table

The table over the page lists and shows examplesof the main hazards while using a band saw. It alsoincludes the possible consequence of the hazardand provides a list of recommended controls.

The zone numbers in the table refer to the zones in the band saw diagram opposite.1. Saw blade at cutting zone2. Saw blade outside cutting zone3. Sliding feed table4. Feet

2

1

3

4

Guidance Note Safe use of meat band saws

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Hazard Possible consequence Recommended controlsZone 1Saw blade at cutting zone Cutting or severing fingers whilst

feeding productIntroduce technology e.g. bladebrake mechanism incorporatingoperator arm band 'sensor' andmicrocontroller based control unit

Fit a hinged (spring return) guard,providing back and side protectionbetween the operators hand andblade

hinged spring guard in operation

hinged spring guard in restposition

Use specific machines for specificcuts e.g. such as a four bladedband saw for frozen blocks of meat- the product is fed by air activationor is manually fed with a pushguard

four bladed band saw


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Hazard Possible consequence Recommended controls– manual push guard

four bladed band saw– rear chute

Use the height adjustable fixedprotective blade guard

Modify and adjust the blade guardso that it is as close to the productas practicable and specific to taskbeing undertaken

adjustable blade guard

Install a motor brake wherepossible with a braking speed of 3-4 seconds

Install a brake pedal or pressurepad so the machine is unable to beleft to run continuouslyUse jigs to push / feed product toavoid close hand proximity to theblade

‘jig’ – product pusher


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Hazard Possible consequence Recommended controls

Use a guide tunnel and pusher e.g.halving frozen pork loins chops,lamb loin, beef t-bones

‘jig’ – product pusher

Thumb protector guard on slidingtable

‘jig’ – thumb guard

Congestion around operators workzone

Cutting or severing fingers ifknocked by passers by working inclose proximity to operator

Design the work zone in such amanner as to prevent personsother than operator of the saw fromintruding into the workspace andbumping into operators

Clearly identify with line markingsoperators work zone

designated operator


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Workers can slips or trip on wetand slippery floors from build up ofproduct on floors that are notcleaned

work zone

Tubs and other materials on thefloor are kept clear of operatorswork zone

Congestion of product behind bandsaw e.g. product build up on tablecausing operator to throw productaround blade

Cutting or severing fingers Ensure regular cleaning ofoperators work zone e.g. productclearing and tubs emptied regularly

Ensure chutes or conveyors are inuse to prevent build up of productbehind saw table

chute to wheeled tub

Condition of blade guide (e.g. wearor damage)

Cutting or severing fingers Replace blade guides that showsigns of wear of damage (wearpatterns on your blade can be anindicator that wheels in themachine need to be adjusted orthat worn guides are causingproblems and need to be replaced)

blade guide in good condition

Poor condition of saw blade andvibration of moving parts

Permanent hearing loss Ensure equipment is wellmaintained and vibration-free (thiswill enable better and faster cuts,improve blade life and reducenoise)

Zone 2Saw blade outside of cutting zone –upper and/or lower blade exposed

Cutting or severing fingers on bladeof upper and lower wheels

Install guarding with interlockdevices on the upper and lower


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Workers can become entangled onupper and lower wheels

blade wheel guards, so thatopening either door immediatelyshuts off the power

Install a time lock on upper andlower wheel guard to preventaccess during run-down of machine

interlocked blade wheel guards

Changing blade tool Cutting or severing fingers whilsthandling or transporting bladeduring replacement or installation

Transport or move blade in a boxor protective guard to protectagainst sharp edges

Wear cut resistant gloves whilstinstalling / changing blade

cut resistant gloves whilehandling blade

Removal of blockages, assistingproduct flow and cleaning betweendifferent products

Cutting or severing fingers duringcleaning operations

Ensure cleaning of the saw onlyundertaken once locked andtagged out

Ensure saw is switched off andisolated from the power supplyduring cleaning operations andwhen not in use

Lack of power isolation switch thatcan be locked out

Entanglement in upper and lowerwheel or lacerations during

Ensure a lockable isolation switchis present on saw


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maintenance and repair activitiesEnsure standard operatingprocedures exist for maintenanceand repair of saw

Upper and lower wheels exposed

In-running nip on upper and lowerwheels

Spokes on upper and lower wheels

Drive units on upper and lowerwheels

Crushing hazard to hand andfingers

Entanglement in upper and lowerwheels

Install guarding and interlockdevices on the upper and lowerblade wheel guards

An alternative may be an interlockdevice on upper blade wheel guardwith pin to prevent bottom guardopening independently

Zone 3Sliding feed table Impact of crushing hazard to hands

or feet, should the sliding feed tablefall out of the guide

Design of feed table ensuressliding tables are unable to slideout

Zone 4Loss of stability Impact crush to the body should

saw become unbalanced or tipEnsure stability of equipment, thiscan be achieved by fixingequipment to the floor or ensuringequipment is positioned on a firmand stable base

Wheel-mounted machines must beequipped with locking devices toprevent turning and rolling

Other

Body posture or excessive physicaleffort

Musculoskeletal disorder Ensure band saw blades arechanged on a regular basis toreduce the need to force productthrough the saw

Ensure band saw blades are keptsharp

Ensure table heights are set toprevent sustained awkward posture

Ensure floor is stable with highquality anti fatigue matting; thisshould not create secondarymanual handling problems whenmoving matting during cleaningactivity

Water may be used on table tomake pushing product througheasier


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Lack of or poorly placedemergency stop button / pedal

Cutting or severing fingers asoperator is unable to stop bandsaw in case of emergency

Ensure emergency stop buttons onband saws are present, identifiable(e.g. red) and can be reached byoperators from working position

Provide knee or foot pressureemergency stop

identifiable emergency stop

kick button emergency stop

Training and Supervision

Poorly trained and supervisedoperators working on the saw

Workers who are inexperienced,lack training or adequatesupervision are at risk of injuringthemselves and others

Ensure operators have extensivetraining on the safe use of the sawand how to process product safelythrough the machine

Ensure training is progressive e.g.that a novice trainee commencestraining on cuts where their handsare kept away from the blade.Intricate cuts are not performed bynewly trained operators

A more recent option for training isthe use of a laser projector toprovide a visual warning prompt foroperators

The laser is lined up with the saw


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blade and provides a beam of lightalong the intended line of cut forthe operator to use as a guide. Thebeam of light acts as a visualprompt for the operator to keephands and fingers clear of theblade.

laser projector – visual warningprompt for trainees

Training records are documented –a list of authorised users isavailable and displayed

Ensure operators are supervisedby a competent person

Ensure supervisors monitor therate or work to ensure that workersare not operating beyond theircapacity to keep up with supply ofthe product

Ensure supervisors assessoperators to ensure correct andsafest technique is beingperformed

Ensure supervisors rotateoperators so they are not fatiguedwhilst performing the same task

Rate / speed of work - using a band Cutting or severing fingers - an Ensure new employees are


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saw is essentially a paced task thatis the operator has to keep up withthe people supplying the carcass tothem.

increased rate of work will lead toinjury as the person is unable tokeep up with the task.

provided with a reduced rate ofwork so they can develop theirskills on the job before beingrequired to work at the ‘normal’ rateof work for the room

Personal Protective Equipment

Wearing gloves whilst using theband saw

When mesh and cotton gloves areworn they can become entangledin moving parts

Ensure mesh and cotton gloves arenot worn as it is not a practical formof protection

Roughened rubber or similargloves may add grip whenhandling some products andprovide protection against frozenand cold product

Working on slippery surfaceswithout adequate footwear

Worker may slip without adequatefootwear

Wear appropriate non-slip safetyfootwear and ensure tread is notworn

guidance note safe use of meat band saws...

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