An employee when
tearing down boxes cut themselves with a box cutter and required treatment
beyond first-aid.
Widespread use of utility knives and box cutters in today's workplace:
Utility knives and
box cutters are used by warehouse personnel in shipping and receiving
departments, retail/grocery store checkers, stock clerks, restaurant and fast
food workers, construction, and emergency rescue workers. They are used to cut
open packages, cartons, cut string or strapping material, cut tape down the
center of boxes, open bags, tear away shrink wrap and to cut seatbelts in cases
of emergency. In short, they are being used for everything.
Factors to consider at your site or on your
project include, but are not limited to, the following:
Occupational hand
injuries as well as injuries (cuts,
lacerations and puncture wounds) are the second most common type of injury
in the workplace.
Extreme caution must
be used at all times when using a knife or box cutter
A safety cutter with
a permanent safety guard will protect the employee from injury because, in the
box-opening position, the blade is not exposed. The guard also acts as a guide
to properly position the cutter, protecting the user from injury and protecting
the carton contents from damage.
These and other injuries
can be prevented by building and increasing employee safety culture.
A successful safety
cutter program must start with a strong commitment from management.
Workers must be
provided with training and instruction on the proper use of safety tools in order
to reduce the incidence of workplace injuries.