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Knife Safety in the Shop

Most knife cuts happen during ordinary work: opening feed bags, trimming hose, cutting tape or scraping. A few habits cut the risk sharply.

Why do shop knives cause so many cuts?

Knives are used all day, often with one hand while the other holds the work. People use them as pry bars, screwdrivers and scrapers. They keep using a dull blade that needs more force and slips. A moment of distraction puts a hand in the cutting path.

Cuts to the hand are among the most common minor injuries in workplaces. Most are preventable with the right tool, a sharp blade and a plan for where the hand goes.

A good habit is to ask before every cut, where will my hand go if this slips? If the answer is into the blade, change the setup.

How do I choose the right knife?

Pick a knife made for the task. A utility knife with a retractable blade suits cutting twine and packaging, a hook blade suits cutting rope or hose and a fixed blade suits heavy work. Using the wrong knife leads to forcing and slipping.

Some work does not need an exposed blade at all, and tools such as safety cutters, shears or cutters with a hidden blade can reduce the risk. Ask your supplier or a safety trainer, and avoid homemade tools.

How should I hold and cut?

Cut away from your body and away from your free hand. Keep the hand that is holding the material out of the cutting line. Use a stable surface, and cut on a board or table, not in your lap or in the air. If you must make several passes, make shallow cuts rather than one forced stroke.

Take your time and stop if you feel the blade bind. Keep your attention on the cut and do not talk or look away while a blade is moving.

Keep the work stable. Do not cut something held against your leg or in your hand if a clamp or board will do. Avoid cutting toward the hand holding the work, and keep a stable stance with both feet planted.

• Keep fingers clear of the line of travel.
• Use a sharp blade; dull blades slip.
• Retract or cover blades when not cutting.
• Do not carry an open blade in a pocket.

How do I store and hand over knives?

Store knives in a sheath, on a rack or in a closed drawer so blades do not meet hands. Never leave a blade in a sink, on a pile of tools or on the seat of equipment. Return knives to the same place each time.

When passing a knife, close or retract the blade or hand it handle first, and tell the other person. Have a rule that nobody walks while holding an open blade.

Make a home for each knife near where it is used and mark it, so people do not leave them in pockets, on equipment seats or in tool buckets where hands search blindly.

What about blade changes and disposal?

Changing blades is a frequent cause of cuts. Follow the manufacturer's instructions, use tools made for the job and keep your hands clear. Put used blades in a rigid container, such as a metal can with a lid, instead of the trash bag where someone will reach in.

Check your local waste rules for sharps disposal and ask your county waste program if you are unsure.

Never put a loose blade in a drawer or pocket. A magnetic strip, a sheath or a case designed for the blade keeps edges covered, and a simple rule that blades go back to their holder after each task works better than reminders.

What if someone is cut?

For serious bleeding, a deep wound, a wound where something is embedded or any injury that worries you, call 911. Do not remove objects that are embedded. The Red Cross and local EMS teach bleeding control and first aid, and taking a class gives you skills no article can.

Keep a stocked first aid kit where it can be reached and make sure it is checked regularly. Keep a record of any injury so you can see what to change.

How can teens and new workers learn safely?

Show the job, let them watch, then watch them do it. Explain why you hold the knife the way you do. For young workers, check the U.S. Department of Labor's rules on the tasks and equipment minors may use, and confirm there, since rules differ by age and job.

Make it safe to ask for a different tool or a break. Pressure to hurry is a hazard of its own.

Review near-misses too. A knife that slipped and missed is a free lesson, if people are comfortable sharing it without blame.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.