Hand knives are used widely in the composites sector and can account for a significant proportion of injuries in individual companies. However, these injuries can be reduced in a number of ways:

• Firstly, determine if you have to use hand knives. See if you can change tooling or processes to eliminate the use of hand knives
• Ensure you select and provide the right knife for the task
• Ensure that the right type of blades are provided and that maintenance regimes are followed
• Provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the task
• Assess the environment to see if there are environmental factors present that could increase the likelihood of injuries (eg poor lighting, slip hazards etc)
• Provide training to staff to ensure they are using hand knives correctly and using the correct PPE etc

For more information download the HSE leaflet Reducing Hand Knife Injuries