One of the equipment you will encounter in a large commercial kitchen is a meat bandsaw. These machines can handle great volumes of bone and meat. They have a lot of moving parts and sharp powerful blades so you need to ensure that the operators understand the risks of working with these equipment and follow the right protocols.
As mentioned above, you have to first start with who is handling the equipment.
The operator needs to be properly trained to use meat bandsaws. You also need to select the right bandsaw; this will depend on efficiency, its settings, safety features etc. The operator should understand the different components of the machine and the functions it offers. Maintaining the machine is another step in training. There are certain hazards that the operators should be aware of. And if there is an issue, they need to know the correct procedure. Different meat bandsaw models will vary in their process of operation and you need to peruse the user manual carefully to understand what is recommended b by the manufacturer. This will highlight the safe method to operate the machine. Think about how the operators are attired when operating the machine.
As the saw blade is very sharp, you need to wear gloves made of cut-resistant materials.
There may be debris flying so you need to protect your eyes using safety goggles. Take off any jewellery that can get caught in the machine. Tie back your hair and ensure that it will not get tangled in the machine when you are unaware. Tight clothing is recommended so that it doesn’t get in the way. You may be using the bandsaw every day. And every day, before you start with the routine work, you need to inspect this equipment. You can give a checklist of items that can be ticked off every day. This can be kept as a record. Some of the things you need to check are damage to the machine, signs of wear etc. The blade has to be aligned properly and have the right tension. You need to check whether the safety shields and guards are in the right place and working properly. The electrical connection to the machine has to be inspected.
There is a specific way that the meat bandsaw is to be used.
This will be included in the instructions given by the manufacturer. The product will specify the types of food and the cutting sizes it can accommodate. Look at the environment in which you use the bandsaw. There should not be any debris around the machine. Clean up any fragments of bone or trimmed pieces of meat. The machine and its area should be cleaned from time to time so that its performance is not affected. The area has to be illuminated properly. The operator should be trained in proper cutting techniques as well so that they don’t come into contact with sharp blades. There is a certain distance you need to keep from the machine.
