Utility Knives Safety

FREE

Using Utility Knives

There are millions of serious workplace injuries a year, and most of these are preventable. One of the most common of these are cuts and lacerations from sharp objects. Learn how to avoid these painful injuries and what to do in case of emergencies.

This problem is so prevalent that around 30 percent of recorded workplace injuries involve cuts and lacerations from sharp objects. And a vast majority of these inflict injury on hands and fingers.

First firmly hold the carton with your hand on the opposite side of where you are cutting. So if you are cutting the top of a carton, make sure your hand is clear away from your cutting path.

When you are ready, cut away from your hands. Cut slow and steadily.

Before you start cutting, plan it out. You can do this visually by marking the carton, or by paying attention to where you want to cut. NEVER use your hand or thumb as a guide for your blade.

When a blade is dull, dispose of it in a blade disposal system, or dispose of it safely. NEVER put it in the trash as it could cut through the bag and injure someone.

Also, NEVER toss a utility knife, even in the closed position to a co-worker. To be safe, don't even pass these knives. Instead, place them on a surface and tell your co-worker to pick it up.

When you are finished using the utility knife: Inspect the blade to make sure it wasn't damaged. Make sure it is in the closed position and is inside its protective covering. Store it in the separate drawer where we keep sharp objects. Check your workstation to make sure no blades were left unattended.

Treating Cuts and Lacerations

When possible, employees should treat their own cuts or lacerations instead of a co-worker. If necessary, do not hesitate to call emergency services.

Co-workers should not come in contact with blood to avoid bloodborne pathogens.

You should also seek medical attention if: The cut is on your face or head. Your injury starts to feel numb, or you lose sensation in a limb. If the wound is obviously deep, especially if you can see fat or bone inside the wound. If you have not had a tetanus shot in the past ten years.

If a cut has been infected, seek medical attention.

If the wound is draining pus, red, swelling or extremely tender after a day, it may be infected.

A doctor or nurse may give you a tetanus shot if you've never had one, or a booster shot. It's possible you will be prescribed an antibiotic.

Snap-Off and Sharpening Blades

If you are using a disposal system to snap the blade off, make sure the blade is out so the the perforation line is inserted.

How often should you snap? If you are cutting through tough material, then it can be as frequently as weekly or every day. It all depends on how much you use the blade and how hard the material is that you're cutting. A good rule to have is to snap whenever you feel the blade getting dull. Remember, the sharper the carton cutter is, the safer it is.

How often should you snap?

Utility Knife Safety Quiz

How often should you snap?