Safer Saws - Hollymatic 2021 - 4

the plant lost control of the meat and cut
through the three middle fingers on his left
hand.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports
injury and illness rates for the meatpacking
industry are three times higher than the
national average with amputations by
blades among the most serious. A 2016
OSHA report ranks animal slaughtering and
processing eighth among all industries for
the highest number of severe injuries. The
same report states that
numbers may actually be
higher.
While amputations from
saws continue to threaten
worker and food safety,
it's important to note that
worker safety initiatives and
programs in the industry
have lowered the incidence
of occupational injuries and
illnesses.
" It's not about money,
it's about taking
care of the people, "
Stouffer says.
RAISING THE BAR ON SAFETY
Roughly three years ago,
Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. and
its president, Steve Stouffer,
were part of a conscientious decision on
the part of Tyson Foods to " fix worker safety. "
The company would accept some shortterm
sacrifices in the name of long-term
improvement.
The Defender's
patent-pending
detection system
verifies the
operator is wearing
PPE before
every start.
" When we were given that cart blanche to
head down that path, we in the fresh meat
side of the equation in particular, jumped in
with both feet, " Stouffer says.
However it would not be an easy task,
it would require a considerable shift
in culture. The attitude throughout the
meatpacking industry needed to change.
The historical mindset has been that
meat processing is inherently dangerous,
but thanks to companies like Tyson and
Hollymatic, that culture has changed and
continues to evolve through initiatives,
programs, machines and the equipment
necessary to process and produce meat
and poultry.
" People still get hurt and still get illnesses, "
Stouffer says. " So we've got to continue to
strive. Our goal is to get to zero. "
A Band Saw with the ability to significantly
decrease cuts and amputations represents
an investment well worth the cost. Tyson's
Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, plant has
implemented multiple Defender
Band Saws with more on order
and has plans to install them into
other plants around the country.
Another large producer has
multiple Defender PC1500s in
its facility now.
" A lot of the manufacturers
of the original Poultry Cutters
are not making them because
of the liability, because they
are so dangerous, " Guynn
says. " The PC1500 is a nice
compact manual unit. A lot of
poultry producers are automated
throughout the entire plant, so any
kind of broken birds or anything that

Safer Saws - Hollymatic 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Safer Saws - Hollymatic 2021

Safer Saws - Hollymatic 2021 - 1
Safer Saws - Hollymatic 2021 - 2
Safer Saws - Hollymatic 2021 - 3
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Safer Saws - Hollymatic 2021 - 5
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/hollymatic/safer-saws-hollymatic-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/hollymatic/safer-saws-hollymatic-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/hollymatic/2020_02_24
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/hollymatic/2019_09_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/hollymatic/2018_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/hollymatic/2015_10_01
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