KNIFE USE
- General Requirements
- To prevent injuries from the use of knives on the jobsite, ESCO Group will implement a knife use policy for all employees. Prior to starting any task that involves the use of a knife, the employee must determine whether or not the knife is the right tool for the job. If the knife is the right tool for the job, the employee must be wearing the proper PPE. Cut-resistant gloves are provided for all employees who are using a knife or handling sharp material. If knife use is required, the knife must be one of the following: locking blade utility knife, self-retracting blade utility knife, or a standard locking blade pocket knife. If a utility knife is used, it shall have a round-tipped safety blade installed (shown below). A hawksbill blade knife may also be used for stripping larger wire or cable.
- When using a knife always cut away from the body and keep all body parts out of the line of fire. Make sure there are no bystanders or other employees in the line of fire when cutting operations are in place. If using a straight edge to make a cut, a mechanical device must be used to hold the material and straightedge to avoid the possibility of the knife jumping the straightedge and cutting a finger or hand. Never leave a knife unattended with the blade exposed.
- Below is a list of the various types of tasks that require the use of a knife. Cut-resistant gloves must be worn 100% of the time when performing the tasks listed below and when performing a task that is not listed that requires the use of a knife.
- Opening cartons/boxes
- Cutting stretch wrap
- Removing the excess material from engraved plastic tags/stickers
- Stripping large wire/cable
- Buss work
- Stripping SO cord
- Removing carny balls of tape from motor terminations
- Cutting carpet off outlets
- Heat trace end terminations
- Sealtite in the field
- Removing cold/heat shrink that is installed
- Removing caulk from installed boxes
- Rob-Roy conduit threading
- Removing the head of a wire pull
- T-Tapping grounds