IAMU Informer
Follow IAMU!
  • Informer News Feed
  • IAMU Website

Toolbox Talk - Utility Knife Safety

7/18/2018

0 Comments

 
Cut the material, not yourself!
Picture
Utility knives, otherwise known as box knives, are a commonly used tool at home and in the workplace. If not used properly, these tools can inflict serious injuries.

Basic safety precautions
When using the knife, cut away from your body. Keep your free hand, forearm and the rest of your body clear of the cutting path. Even though this seems like an obvious precaution, improper cutting is a common cause of most lacerations. Watch out for others in your work area so that they also stay out of the cutting path.

Make sure the blade is sharp. A dull blade means that the user must exert more force to cut the material, and this means that the user does not have complete control of the cut. Forcing the knife may also result in severe accidents that include ligament and tendon damage. The pressure needed to cut with a dull knife may also result in hand and arm fatigue, which can lead to an ergonomic injury.
Don’t use the knife as a screwdriver or pry tool. Due to the brittle nature of the blade, this may result in the tip breaking off and becoming airborne. Knives with breakaway blades or X-Acto knives are not meant to be used in the workplace.

Clean the handle if it is oily or dirty so you have a good grip on the knife.

Check to see that the blade is properly seated in the knife. Blades that are not correctly seated or are not the proper size will not completely retract into the handle when closed. This means the blade tip will be exposed, even when the knife is closed. Dispose of used blades in a puncture-proof, closable container.
Picture
As with all tool use, use the proper PPE. Cut-resistant gloves and eye protection are a must use!
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe to The Informer!

    * indicates required

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    RSS Feed

Picture

Copyright 2025 Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities