Safety Knives | OHS - Workplace Safety
SAFETY KNIVES
A safety knife is a spring-loaded, self-retracting utility knife that workers use to more safely open boxes and cartons. All way safety knives help shrink your workmen's compensation costs by radically reducing the incidence of minor employee accidents.
There are countless types and styles of cutting devices. While each may have a different shape and function, they all have one thing in common: the ability to cause serious injury when used improperly or in a careless
manner.
-Uitlity knives: What is a utility knife? A utility knife is a knife used for general or utility purposes. The utility knife was originally a fixed blade knife with a cutting edge suitable for general work such as cutting hides and cordage, scraping hides, butchering animals, cleaning fish, and other tasks.
-Box cutter: What is a box cutter? There’s a wide variety of knives that can be considered box cutters. Rather than relying on a specific design style, the box cutter definition simply comes down to whether or not a given tool can cut boxes.
IMPORTANCE OF A SHARP BLADE
• No matter what type of application you have or environment you are working in, keeping a sharp blade
makes it easier to cut through material. This allows the worker to exert less effort and makes it easier to
maintain good posture while keeping the blade under control.
• Depending on the type of knife you are using, there are various ways to maintain a sharp blade.
BOX CUTTER BLADES
• The blade on some utility knives may be scored to allow the dull section to be snapped off and a sharp edge
to take its place. When performing this function, always wear safety glasses because the blade may fly away
with enough force to cause an eye injury.
• Always use an assist device to snap the blade, such as a pair of pliers. Never use your hand or force the
blade against a solid object.
• Other types of utility knives require a new blade to be installed and the worn one replaced. Before doing
this, make sure you know how to replace the blade and have the correct replacement on hand.
• Remember, even a worn blade is sharp and must be handled carefully. Only hold the blades on the
unsharpened side; never hold a blade by the sharp side.
• When disposing of a used blade, it must be disposed of in a safe manner. Don’t just throw it in the trash; this
places others at risk.
• The best place to dispose of a used blade is in a “sharps” container. These containers are designed to safely
handle sharp objects.
• An alternative disposal method is to carefully wrap several layers of tape around the blade before placing it
in a waste container.
• Be sure to check with your supervisor for the specific disposal requirements for your facility.
• After installing a new blade, reassemble the knife, making sure all the screws are properly tightened to
ensure the knife won’t break open or come apart during use.
SHARPENING & INSPECTING FIXED BLADE KNIVES
• Fixed blade knives must also be kept sharp and inspected for good working condition.
• Before using a knife, check for any signs of damage such as cracked or damaged handles. Make sure the
connection between the blade and the handle is secure.
• Knives with loose blades, damaged handles or other defects must be removed from service.
• While it is important to keep the blade sharp, knives should only be sharpened by a person properly trained
and authorized by the company.
• Many companies have a specific sharpening schedule for fixed blade knives, specifying how often a knife
should be sharpened. The period between sharpening depends on the frequency of use and the type of material
being cut.
• Always follow your company’s recommended frequency of changing to a newly sharpened blade, even if
you think the blade is working fine. Studies have shown that the effects of a dull blade often begin before the
user can perceive a need to change blades.
• This is especially important when performing tasks that require repetitive cutting. Using a dull blade add
additional strain to the cutting motion, which can contribute to fatigue and the onset of musculoskeletal
disorders over time.
SIGNS & HAZARDS OF DULL BLADES
• Many common uses of knives aren’t controlled by a regular sharpening schedule, so it’s up to us to recognize
the signs of a dulling blade.
• If you notice an increase in the amount of force needed to cut material or see that the blade is tearing material
rather than cutting it, it’s time to get a new blade.
• Cutting with a dull blade causes us to apply more force and pressure to the blade in order to get it to cut.
This can lead to a variety of unsafe situations such as 1) applying so much force that the blade bends or breaks;
2) a loss of balance when the blade slips free of the material; or 3) we become so focused on trying to make the
cut that we quit paying attention to the path of blade travel, leading to an injury.
• Even with a sharp blade, applying too much pressure can be a source of injury. When cutting thick
materials, make several passes, cutting a little bit each time rather than trying to cut through the material all at
one time.
KEEPING BODY PARTS AWAY FROM BLADE’S PATH OF TRAVEL
• Another safety tip for preventing injuries while using knives is to maintain an awareness of where your body
parts are located relative to the path the blade will travel.
• We have all heard the advice to always cut away from our body. This works well for whittling a stick, but is
usually awkward in most industrial applications.
• In fact, when cutting on a flat surface, the most powerful and efficient cutting motion is towards your body.
• Cutting at a 90-degree angle to your body is also a safe, powerful stroke.
• Before beginning any cutting motion, make sure your free hand is out of the way. This may seem easy when
performing simple, slow-paced cutting tasks like opening boxes, but when faced with a fast-paced repetitive
task, it takes deliberate concentration and effort to avoid injury.
CUT-RESISTANT GLOVES
• Due to the increase risk of injury in these types of applications, many facilities require the use of a cut-
resistant glove on the non-cutting hand.
• Various types of cut-resistant gloves are available to provide protection from an inadvertent cut or loss of
control.
• Many times, a cut-resistant glove is worn under some other type of glove.
• If you are required to wear a cut-resistant glove while performing your job, be sure to do so. It only takes a
moment for a serious injury to occur.
PROTECTING CO-WORKERS FROM KNIFE INJURIES
• When using knives, keep in mind that your co-workers may inadvertently be in the path of blade travel.
• Under ideal conditions, co-workers should stay at least an arm’s length away from an exposed blade to
minimize the possibility of inadvertent contact; however, in many applications this is simply not possible.
• When using a knife in close proximity to others, it is critical to keep the blade under control and in close
proximity to the material being cut.
• Avoid making large, sweeping cuts that may carry your blade into an aisle way or near a co-worker.
• When approaching a worker using a knife, make sure he or she is aware of your presence before entering the
cutting area.
ANATOMY OF THE HAND\TENDON LACERATIONS
• In order for our hand to open, close, grip, pinch and perform the various movements that give us the ability to
perform even the simplest tasks, a complex combination of nerves, tendons and muscles must work together.
• When these structures are damaged, coordinated movement is no longer possible.
• Located on the back side of the hand are the extensor tendons, which are responsible for straightening out the
wrist and the fingers. These tendons are very superficial, which means they are just under the skin.
• A cut through one of these tendons results in the inability to straighten the fingers or wrist, making it
impossible to open the hand to reach around an object.
• The palm side of the hand contains the flexor tendons. These tendons give us the ability to bend the wrist
downward as well as bending the fingers inwards into a fist.
• When these tendons are cut, you are unable to grasp, hold or pick up an object.
• Unfortunately, tendons do not grow back once cut nor can they repair themselves on their own. Lacerated
tendons require repair by a qualified hand surgeon.
• This surgery is very delicate and is not always successful. Even when successful, surgery is just the
beginning of the repair process.
• Most tendon lacerations require months of intensive therapy to regain functional use of the hand. This
therapy requires specialized splinting and rigorous rehabilitation exercises that must be performed every hour
the patient is awake, usually over the course of several months.
• Most individuals are not emotionally prepared for such an extensive rehabilitation program. All too often
patients simply give up, never regaining functional use of the injured hand.
NERVE DAMAGE IN THE HANDS
• The hand and forearm also contain important nerves that, if lacerated, would result in significant functional
loss. Nerves provide sensation and control the movement of the muscles.
• If the portion of the nerve responsible for movement is affected, the hand cannot move in a controlled
manner, making grasping and holding objects almost impossible.
• If the portion of the nerve that controls sensation is damaged, the ability to feel hot and cold is affected,
which often leads to further injury.
• Like tendons, nerves generally require surgical intervention to be repaired. Once surgically repaired, there is
an additional amount of healing or “regeneration” that the nerve must undergo.
• This rate of regeneration is very slow—
about an inch a month. So if you have a lacerated nerve that is four
inches away from the tip of your index finger, you can anticipate a recovery period of about four to six months
before sensation is restored to the fingertip.
• During this time, the patient has to endure protective splinting to prevent damaging the repaired nerve and
therapy to “re-educate” the nerve to perceive objects with which the affected area comes into contact.
OTHER KNIFE SAFETY TIPS
• As users of industrial knives, we must make sure to avoid any moments of carelessness if we are to prevent
injury.
• Never attempt to cut an object when either you or the object is unstable.
• Where possible, place objects on a flat, stable surface before cutting. When this is not possible, at least make
sure you have a stable stance and have a clear path of blade travel before cutting.
• Never hold or carry a knife by the blade; any type of mishap could lead to an injury. This includes handing
the knife to someone else while holding the blade.
• To prevent these types of situations, always return a knife with a fixed blade to its sheath, scabbard or
designated storage area as soon as you are finished cutting.
• Simply following good housekeeping practices can prevent many knife injuries.
• Should you happen to drop a knife, never attempt to catch it. It’s better to let it hit the floor than risk
grabbing the blade.
• If you have to travel while holding a fixed blade knife, keep the tip pointed down and walk carefully. Stay
alert for co-workers who may be in your travel path.
• When using knives with retractable blades, always close the blade when finished or before handing it to
another worker.
• Many types of knives have built-in safety features such as automatically retracting blades or special guards to
provide additional protection. These devices are only as good as the person using the knife; they should never
be defeated or removed.
• Any time you might save by taking a shortcut while using a knife is trivial compared to the extensive
rehabilitation required by a serious hand laceration.
RESPONDING TO KNIFE INJURIES
• Every cut does not cause major damage. In fact, most small cuts and nicks only cause superficial damage;
however, even a minor cut must still be reported and treated properly.
• First aid for a minor cut includes washing with soap and water, then cleansing the wound with some type of
antiseptic to kill germs.
• Failing to properly clean a wound, especially in an industrial or food processing environment, can lead to
serious infections.
• Because of the risk of illness spread by contact with human blood and other bodily fluids, any work area and
knife blades contaminated by human blood must be properly disinfected. Simply wiping up the bloody area
with a damp rag is not enough.
A disinfecting solution must be used, which will kill germs and bacteria contained in human blood. A
common choice is a mixture of bleach and water.
• It is very important that you be familiar with your company’s procedures for reporting a cut or other injury.
Only through the reporting process can the company ensure that you receive proper first aid and that your work
area and knife blade are properly decontaminated.
reference: http://www.safetytrainingnetwork.com/library/ldg/1838-LDG-E.pdf
More reading:
1-Workplace Safety
2-Design
3-Safety Ideas
4-Box Cutter Safety
5-Lab Safety