I’m Great at Dicing Vegetables…

That Smarts

Knife Safety Do’s and Don’ts

• Do’s– A knife is used for cutting, and cutting only. – Always make cuts away from your body. – Let a falling knife fall. – Carry knives with the cutting edge angled

slightly away from your body, with the tip pointed down to your side.

Knife Safety Do’s and Don’ts

• Don’t: – Use too much pressure to cut. – Use a defective knife. – Place a knife near the edge of a

countertop.– Talk with coworkers while using

a knife.

Knife Transfer

• Method 1– When someone asks you to pass a knife, turn it over

vertically and offer them the handle side first. You can grasp the sides on the knife blade with your fingertips to protect yourself.

• Method 2 (preferred)– Place a knife that you are handing to someone down on

a clean surface, and let the other person pick it up.

Implement Safe Work Practices

• Allow only experienced, trained workers to sharpen knives.

• Keep the thumb beneath the knuckle guard rim protection on the handle of the sharpener, rather than on top of the rim where it may get cut.

Cleaning and Storage

• Don't let knives soak; clean knives immediately after use. • When wiping, always wipe the knife from the dull side.• Wash by hand using hot, sudsy water; rinse with hot

water, and then dry immediately. • Store knives in a safe, dry place, with the sharp edge

protected.

How to Store a Knife

When Using a Knife

• Cut in the direction away from the body.

• Keep your fingers and thumbs out of the way of the cutting line.

• Use the correct knife for the cutting job.

• Use personal protective equipment (PPE).

Shared Responsibility

Employers have the primary responsibility for protecting the safety and health of their workers.

Employees are responsible for following

the safe work practices of their employers.

Box Cutters

Using Box Cutters Safely

• Point the blade away from yourself when cutting.

• Make sure the blade is safely stored away.

• Blades are best when they're sharp.

• Don't use tools with rusted blades.

Be Careful When Changing Blades

Incident Reporting

• If you are injured, what should you do?– Report to your supervisor or manager.

– Complete an Incident Report (IR) immediately.• Explain fully: who, what, where, when, how,

why.• Give IR to supervisor or manager.

– Understand procedures for workers’ compensation medical practices at your workplace.

Summary

• Use the right knife/tool for the job.• Wear employer provided Personal

Protective Equipment.• Clean and store knives immediately

after use.• Never hand someone else a knife.• Utilize a box cutter that is designed

with safety in mind.