Utility Knife Safety Rules

• Utility knives are practical multi-function tools that have a variety of uses in the home, garage and workshop. folding utility knife image by Christopher Dodge from Fotolia.com

  Because of their compact size, durability, low cost and usefulness, utility knives are some of the most common tools around the home and job site. Following appropriate safety procedures and properly maintaining your utility knife will ensure that you get the best performance from this tool, while preventing injury as well.

Always Use a Sharp Blade

• Although it may seem counter-intuitive, a sharp knife is a safe knife. This is true for several reasons. First, a sharp blade will cut through dense materials like leather or wood far easier than a dull knife. The easier it is to cut the material, the more control you have in using the knife. Second, if you were to cut yourself with a sharp blade you would inflict a clean, straight cut instead of a jagged cut. The cleaner cuts heal better and would be less prone to scarring.

Wear Work Gloves

• The best way to avoid injury when using a utility knife is to wear thick, cut-resistant work gloves. Though gloves may be inconvenient and bulky while attempting to make intricate cuts or when carving, gloves can be worn without impacting performance during tasks that do not require fine manipulation, such as cutting wires or scoring drywall.

Cut Away From Yourself and Others

• Although not cutting towards yourself and others may seem like common sense, you may be surprised how frequently you can find yourself cutting towards your hands or your leg. This often occurs while whittling a small piece of wood or when working on materials that you have rested on your lap. Avoid this common safety risk by working on a table or by placing the material in a vice.

Use the Knife for its Intended Purpose

• Knives are tools that were designed for cutting, slicing and carving. You should use them only for those purposes. Although the blade may be a convenient substitute for a screwdriver or handy for prying the lid off a paint can, avoid the temptation. The blade may slip and cause a puncture wound or a deep cut, or it may break and send a sharp piece of metal flying.

Properly Store and Secure You Knives

• Keeping knives in a manner that prevents the blade from being exposed is the safest way of storing them. Some knives will come with a sheath or a block of wood to hold the blade, while many others have retractable or folding blades. Storing the knife in this manner in a location that is not accessible by children is the best and safest method.