Utility Knife Safety

• Cuts to hands, fingers, legs, or body
• Hands placed in the cutting path
• Blade breakage, loose blades, or overextended blades
• Dull blades requiring excessive force
• Material slipping, shifting, or releasing suddenly
• Used blades or open knives left unsecured

Utility knives are common tools, but they can cause serious cuts when workers rush, use dull blades, or place hands in the cutting path.

Workers should inspect the knife before use. Handle, blade, locking mechanism, retracting feature, blade holder, and overall condition should be checked.

Only the blade length needed for the cut should be exposed. Overextended blades are more likely to snap, bend, slip, or cut too deeply.

Workers should cut away from the body and keep the opposite hand out of the cutting path. Before cutting, think about where the blade will go if it slips.

Sharp blades are safer than dull blades because they require less force. Dull or damaged blades should be replaced using a safe blade-change procedure.

Material should be stable before cutting. Boxes, straps, wrap, rope, flooring, packaging, and plastic can shift or release suddenly.

Used blades should go into an approved blade container or puncture-resistant container. Loose blades should not be placed in pockets, drawers, toolboxes, or regular trash.

Safe utility knife use depends on inspection, sharp blades, controlled cutting direction, good hand placement, stable material, and storing the knife with the blade protected.

• Inspect utility knives before use.
• Use only the blade length needed.
• Cut away from the body.
• Keep hands out of the cutting path.
• Replace dull or damaged blades safely.
• Retract or cover blades when not in use.
• Dispose of used blades in approved containers.

• Is the knife in safe condition?
• Where will the blade go if it slips?
• Are hands clear of the cutting path?
• Is the material stable before cutting?
• How will used blades be disposed of?