Bladestop™

Description

Bladestop™ is a brake mechanism on bandsaws that stops the blade if it comes in contact with the operator's hand. This significantly reduces the extent of injuries and limits the number of severe injuries that result in amputation.

Benefits

The benefits of the device to organisation using bandsaws include;

• Reduced down time (when an accident occurs)
• Reduced sick leave and related rehabilitation costs for injured workers
• Reduced time and cost for placing a replacement worker
• Insurance savings

Some other less quantifiable but important benefits include:

• Reducing the social and financial impact of serious injury or amputation for workers
• Improved safe work practices
• Improved employee relations

Availability

Technical difficulties and cost increases have delayed commercialisation of Bladestop™.  MLA provided an update to industry in July 2009, and subsequently carried out an independent review of the technology.

This review has now been completed, and Bladestop™ is currently being trialled within a limited set of plants in order to finalise the commercial production version. Following this trial period, MLA will work with MAR and interested processing sites, to facilitate the adoption adoption of the Bladestop™ technology. It will be made commercially available through Machinery Automation and Robotics (MAR) in 2011/2012.

Implementation of Bladestop™ will require purchase of a new saw (a modified version of a Thompson Mk6 bandsaw with stainless steel flywheel).

More information

Bandsaws are a major contributor of injuries and amputations in the meat and wood industries. Slight lapses in concentration can cause loss or partial loss of limbs, loss of income and can have drastic effects on the injured party and the company. 

See background for further information.