Moving Edge Helping to Set the Standard for the Food Industry

May 15, 2011

The introduction of the Moving Edge Dispo Lite Food Safe disposable safety knife sets a new benchmark for the control of blades in food production.

During the development of the Dispo Lite Food Safe safety knife,we used an application based risk assessment to address a multitude of eventualities for both food production and users safety.

Key Design Principles

The main objectives were to remove any chance of the safety knife parts ending up in the production process which is why the design also incorporates the minimum amount of components. This also removes the opportunity for any malicious activity which may involve parts being left in the end product.

All metal components are stainless steel while all the plastic elements of the Foodsafe safety knives are manufactured from a metal detectable plastic material. In fact, the plastic is a non-wear material. The Dispo Lite Food Safe knife is also in a highly visible blue, the recognised Food Blue for the food production industry.

Although lightweight to hold, we also wanted to ensure our disposable foodsafe knives were fingersafe and ergonomically friendly to use. All this, plus being durable and strong – and of course, fit for purpose. That is one of the reasons why we opted for a moulded, rather than pressed design. The design significantly has no food traps, enabling easy and thorough washing, and reducing the risk of cross-contamination if opening different products.

The disposable food safe safety knife also needed to effectively work on a variety of packaging materials. That is why we developed the Dispo Lite Food-Safe to effortlessly cut bags including tri wall, shrink wrap, tape and cardboard.

Blade control is made easy in high risk areas (and locations where the product is in contact or open to the production process) either by etching ID tags on each individual knife, or attaching ID tags. The amount of blades can be easily identified and the lifecycle accurately controlled. The Moving Edge Dispo Lite Food Safe safety knife has an average lifecycle of 2-3 weeks.

On-Site Blade Control

The control of blades varies from site to site. However the principle is the same across the industry – to control all hazards in an area where food is prepared, or where contamination can occur.

Most sites will achieve this by checking units between (or at the end / start) of shifts. All safety knives are then accounted for and missing ones are identified easily. This is also good practice to ensure the units themselves are free of defects and in good working order.

Sites achieve this in two ways:

1. Control the time the units are used for – typically 2 week periods. The Disposable safety knives will be disposed of on a rota basis regardless of usage and ensuring all knives are free of defects.

2. Blade registration. Each safety knife is identified by a number, which is normally etched on the unit or by reusable metal tags which are attached to the knife. Often a numbered knife board is used for this purpose. Once the shift is over, the operators hang the knives so that missing safety knives can be identified and located, and any defects are easily spotted.

Quick Reference Facts about the Dispo Lite FoodSafe Knife: