Commercial Food Slicer, Mixer and Mincer SWMS

Suits restaurants, cafes, butchers, delis, bakeries, caterers and food manufacturers that use commercial slicers, planetary mixers and mincers (meat slicers and mincers are covered here too). It covers pre-start checks, slicing, mixing, mincing, hot and raw product, isolation before cleaning, sanitising and shutdown.

Using food machines is not high risk construction work, so a SWMS is required by law (WHS Regulation s 299) only when the work is part of high risk construction work (s 291). Otherwise this document works as a written safe work procedure and task risk assessment. If the machines are used during construction work, for example a kitchen fit-out, tick the s 291 items that apply, such as a risk of a fall of more than 2 m or energised electrical installations or services.

Learn More: What Is A Safe Work Method Statement?
Have you ever been asked to provide a SWMS on a project in Queensland? Read our guide to what a Safe Work Method Statement is and when you need one.

What Is Covered In Our Commercial Food Slicer, Mixer and Mincer SWMS?

The job steps run in the order the work is done, from pre-start checks to finishing up. The hazards and controls include:

• Contact with the slicer blade
• Hands drawn into the mincer feed throat
• Hair and clothing caught by mixer beaters
• Machine starting during cleaning
• Blade and plate cuts when cleaning
• Electric shock from wet equipment
• Chemical burns from cleaning products
• Scalds from hot product and water
• Slips on wet and greasy floors
• Strains from heavy bowls and product
• Food contamination from poor hygiene
• Faulty guards and interlocks

High Risk Construction Work

No high risk construction work items (WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) s 291) are pre-ticked, because this work is not high risk construction work by itself. Tick the items that apply to your job, such as a fall risk of more than 2 metres or work where powered mobile plant is moving.

Licences, Training and Competency

• Training in the safe use, guarding, controls and cleaning of each machine used (slicer, mixer, mincer), with competency confirmed by a competent person before unsupervised use
• Training in the site’s isolation procedure (unplug or switch off at the isolator) for cleaning and maintenance
• Training in the SDS and safe use of cleaning and sanitising chemicals
• Food safety induction and hygiene rules of the site
• First aider on shift briefed on cuts, amputations and scalds
• No high risk work licence class covers food slicers, mixers or mincers

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice 2021
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): ss 133 and 134 (safety switch and tag-and-test where manufacturing work, such as work associated with sorting, processing and packing food products, is the primary work at the workplace) or s 138 (service work, such as cooking in a restaurant: specified electrical equipment is connected to a safety switch or inspected and tested at least yearly by a competent person)
• Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2021 – Managing electrical risks in the workplace

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (12 pages), laid out on A4 landscape pages
• Business, client, job and document details typed once and filled in on every page, plus a space for your logo
• The high risk construction work checklist, worded as WHS Regulation s 291, and the construction project question (s 292)
• A worker and health and safety representative consultation record
• Qualifications, plant, PPE, hazardous chemicals, safety equipment, permits, references and emergency arrangements filled in for this work
• A 5 x 5 risk matrix, and job steps with initial and residual risk scores and the people responsible
• Implementing, monitoring and review requirements, an additional controls log, revision history and a worker sign-on sheet

Review and adjust it for your site, your plant and the way your crew does the job, and talk it through with your workers before work starts. If you have any trouble downloading this SWMS, you can contact us at any time. Please make sure you read our Disclaimer before downloading this SWMS.