| According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, | | | | clear to workers which knives are the proper |
| 250,000 serious hand, finger and wrist injuries | | | | choice for cutting operations. Additionally, all |
| occur in the private industry annually. The U.S. | | | | employees should receive at least basic training on |
| Bureau of Labor Statistics also estimates that | | | | the correct way to use, carry, store, clean and |
| approximately 111,000 workers with hand and | | | | maintain a safety knife. Knives should be kept |
| finger injuries lose days away from work annually | | | | sharp and regularly inspected for damage or wear. |
| - second only to back strain and sprain. | | | | Above all, other implements should not be |
| Hand injuries are no light matter, especially in | | | | substituted for the use of a hand knife, and |
| industries where hand tools play a predominant | | | | safety knives must be maintained in accordance |
| role in the day-to-day operations of a business. In | | | | with manufacturers' instructions. |
| fact, OSHA statistics indicate that more than 10 | | | | Safety Knife Tips: |
| percent of all on-the-job injuries involve the use or | | | | - Select the right tool for job |
| misuse of hand tools. While hand tools are | | | | - For tools equipped with a guard, ensure it is in |
| common, many workers do not appreciate the | | | | place and working correctly |
| possibility of injury when using them. | | | | - Choose tools that fit the hand and body and are |
| Researchers at the Liberty Mutual Research | | | | comfortable to use |
| Institute for Safety, in collaboration with | | | | - Discard broken tools |
| colleagues at the Harvard School of Public Health, | | | | - Use tools correctly - push knife away from |
| conducted a study of occupational acute hand | | | | body |
| injuries. The risk of a hand injury was significantly | | | | - Keep hands and/or other body parts away |
| elevated when working with equipment, tools, or | | | | from the point of operation |
| work pieces not performing as expected, when | | | | - Use a tool box or tool belt to carry tools and |
| using a different work method to do a task, doing | | | | keep sharp or pointed edges away from body |
| an unusual task, being distracted, and/or rushed. | | | | - Avoid using excessive force or awkward |
| When addressing the task of reducing the risk of | | | | postures when cutting with a knife |
| lacerations, employers should consider two | | | | When accidents do unfortunately occur, |
| elements: the tools and the person using the tool. | | | | responding to the injury in a timely manner is, of |
| While the use of tools, such as box cutters or | | | | course, mandatory. But first, employers need to |
| utility knives, can and does heighten the risk of | | | | take a little inventory to ensure their first aid |
| injury in the workplace, it's most often the | | | | services are adequate and that the proper training |
| worker's behavior that contributes to the injury. | | | | has been provided. First aid training courses should |
| Nothing can replace solid training with hand tools | | | | include instruction in general and workplace |
| to help prevent future injuries, as well as an | | | | hazard-specific knowledge and skills. OSHA |
| attitude of vigilance when enforcing workplace | | | | suggests that when setting up first aid services |
| safety. | | | | within a company, it's a good idea to appoint a |
| To begin, employers and managers should ensure | | | | person who will be responsible for choosing the |
| that the workplace environment has been made | | | | types and amounts of first aid supplies, and for |
| as safe as possible. Equipment and products | | | | maintaining those supplies. The first aid contact |
| should be inspected for sharp hazards on a regular | | | | should ensure that first aid supplies are adequate, |
| basis. Managers should also eliminate, pad, or guard | | | | reflect the kinds of injuries that occur, and are |
| edges and surfaces that present a risk to | | | | stored in an area where they are available for |
| employees. Above all, good housekeeping and | | | | emergency access. |
| organization should be maintained at all times. | | | | When it comes to first aid treatment for hand |
| When it comes to tools, employers and managers | | | | lacerations, the person treating the injured |
| should also do their homework when it comes to | | | | employee must first protect themselves against |
| providing hand tools to their employees. Workers | | | | infection through contact with the injured |
| should be provided with a variety of hand tools of | | | | employee's bodily fluids. Any equipment, clothing |
| which they can try out. After a trial period, | | | | or surfaces contaminated with blood must be |
| employers can get feedback on which tools | | | | cleaned by a person trained in the proper cleaning |
| operate the best and those that were not as | | | | and disposal methods per the company's |
| useful. Employers can then make informed | | | | bloodborne pathogen transmission prevention |
| choices on which tools will be most functional in | | | | policy. |
| the workplace. | | | | For treating minor cuts, the cut should be washed |
| It's also important for employers to consider what | | | | with mild soap and water. Direct pressure should |
| personal protective equipment (PPE) will be most | | | | be applied to stop any bleeding. Follow up with an |
| suitable for workers. For instance, managers | | | | antibacterial ointment to coat and protect the |
| should provide employees with suitable sheaths or | | | | wound. Once the wound has stopped bleeding, |
| belts for those workers who need to move | | | | cover it with a bandage that will not stick to the |
| around carrying knives. Additional PPE for those | | | | injury. Based on the severity of the wound, |
| working with knives include footwear, gloves, | | | | outside medical treatment may be required. |
| gauntlets, and aprons. | | | | Employers concerned with providing their |
| The third piece of the puzzle to a safe workplace | | | | employees with the most effective cutting tools |
| is the employee. Worker behavior, training and | | | | should seriously consider purchasing one of the |
| understanding of hand tool safety is imperative to | | | | many available styles of safety knives. |
| reducing incidences of injury. Firstly, it should be | | | | |