Creation of an official standard on safety knives is a “major development in the safety knife industry,” Carl R. Cottrell II, vice president of sales and marketing at OLFA North America, recently said to Safety+Health.
“The International Safety Equipment Association, working with manufacturers and experts, is drafting guidelines that reflect real-world needs and proven best practices,” Cottrell said. “Once approved through the American National Standards Institute, it will become an ANSI/ISEA standard.
“When complete, this benchmark will give safety managers a clear, consistent way to evaluate and select safety knives – making it easier to choose tools that truly protect workers.”
As with many products designed to protect workers, “there’s no one-size-fits-all solution,” Cottrell said. “Different tools serve different applications, and, in some cases, a ‘true safety knife’ doesn’t even exist yet.”
He added that many employers seek out OLFA when searching for a safety knife without fully understanding their cutting needs or that a “standard utility knife and a safety knife aren’t interchangeable.”
Cottrell explained that a knife a worker would use to break down heavy corrugate isn’t the same knife a worker would use to cut film, strapping or plastics.
“My advice to employers is to start by really looking at what your team is cutting and where the challenges are,” he said. “And think beyond the knife itself and consider safer systems that pair the right tool with personal protective equipment like cut-resistant gloves or eyewear.”
Coming next month:
- Cold weather
- Facility/warehouse safety
