As the owner of a busy deli, I rely heavily on my commercial-grade meat slicer to process all of the roasted, smoked, and cured meats on my menu.  While these powerful slicers are extremely efficient, they can also be dangerous if used improperly.  In this blog, I'll discuss why training is so important for safely operating commercial meat slicers and detail the training process at my deli.

Commercial meat slicers have extremely sharp circular blades powered by heavy-duty motors.  The motor spins the razor-sharp blade at high speeds, allowing deli operators to quickly slice through large volumes of meats and cheeses.  However, these same features that make slicers so productive also make them potentially hazardous.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires training on how to properly operate and clean meat slicer machinery.  Without proper technique, contact with a fast spinning slicer blade can easily lead to laceration injuries.  Training focuses on key areas like machine controls, securing product to be sliced, blade safety mechanisms, and proper cleaning procedures.

At my deli, I mandate training for anyone required to use our commercial slicers.  Each new employee is partnered with my head slicer operator who oversees hands-on instruction.  Trainees start by observing the machine controls and learning how to properly secure different products on the carriage.  As comfort level grows, trainees will begin actively operating the meat slicer under close observation.

During training at my deli we focus on three core areas:

1.  Safety features - We review the safety knob, blade cover, grip handles, and any other guards or mechanisms designed to protect the operator.

2.  Standard procedures - Step-by-step instruction for prepping product, operating controls, stopping the machine, and disassembling for cleaning.

3.  Sharp blade protocols - Trainees learn to never touch a blade with bare hands, only use gloves and sanitized tongs to handle, and properly store detached blades.

Employees must demonstrate competency in a final supervised assessment before being approved to independently operate our slicers.  Even experienced employees receive annual refresher training.

Meat slicers are essential and incredibly useful machines, but respect for proper training and their potential hazards is paramount.  With detailed operator training and adherence to safety protocols, commercial meat slicers can improve any deli's productivity and efficiency while protecting staff from harm.