The Ultimate Guide to Safety Knives and Hand Protection in the Workplace

Why It Matters

Hand injuries remain a top concern in UK workplaces. In 2019–2020, hand and wrist incidents accounted for over 16,000 non-fatal workplace injuries—which is roughly 25% of all such cases. These injuries often lead to absences exceeding a week, with lacerations alone costing nearly 247,000 workdays lost annually and averaging 2.8 days per case.

Meanwhile, knife-related injuries are particularly significant. In the plastics sector, hand knife injuries account for 25–50% of all lost-time accidents (Gleaning Network). Across all industries, 58% of manual-tool accidents involve knives, with some 43,000 reportable knife-based injuries recorded in 2019 (HSM). In fact, lacerations—most of them to the hands—make up over 30% of workplace injuries.

Clearly, hands are both irreplaceable and highly vulnerable—so equipping employees with the right tools and protection isn’t just sensible; it's essential.

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Key Sections

1. Understanding the Risks

• Knife injuries often occur when a blade slips and contacts the non-knife hand. A scenario accounting for many hand knife incidents.
• Reports reveal cuts, punctures, and lacerations represent a large portion of hand injuries, with 40% of them being cuts or punctures.

2. Safety Knives: Selecting the Right One

Safety knives are not one-size-fits-all. For best protection:

• Avoid fixed blades where possible; opt for concealed or retractable designs.
• Safety features to look for include enclosed blades, automatic or spring-loaded retraction, round-ended blades, and ergonomic grips.
• Rigorous risk assessments should inform your tool selection. Don’t rely on guesswork.

3. Cut Resistant Gloves: Your Last Line of Defence

• Protective gloves can reduce hand injuries by up to 60%.
• One study found that 70% of hand injuries were linked to improper or absent glove use.
• Ensure the glove’s cut resistance rating matches the task and doesn’t compromise dexterity, grip, or comfort. Remember—balance is key.

4. The Hierarchy of Controls

Apply these steps to minimise risk:

1. Eliminate knife use where feasible (e.g., redesign processes, automate cutting).
2. Substitute with safer tools (e.g., scissors, deburring devices).
3. Engineer safer solutions (e.g., self-retracting knives).
4. Administer best practices (training, policies, monitoring).
5. Protect with proper PPE as a final fail-safe.

5. Training, Policy and Culture

Relying solely on equipment misses half the mark. A robust safety culture involves:

• Regular training and toolbox talks to reinforce skills and awareness.
• Enforcing policies where only specified knives are used, safely stored, and properly maintained.
• Fostering a culture where employees truly see hand protection as part of their job rather than optional.

6. Real Impact: Business and Personal Consequences

• Hand and wrist injuries cost UK businesses an estimated £1.3 billion per year, contributing to lost productivity, recruitment costs, insurance premiums, and compensation.
• For individuals, beyond lost time, injuries can cause lasting disability or emotional trauma. A laceration to a dominant hand, for example, could warrant compensation up to £72,000.