Everyone knows that cutting involves the risk of injury. This is painful for the user and costly for the employer. Cutting accidents are almost always caused by suboptimal cutting tools that are not safe. With our high-quality, GS-certified safety knives, we offer an efficient alternative to the apparent logic (cutting = risky).
DGUV figures
The annual figures published by the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) are an indicator of the consequences of the unsteady cutting edge, at least for Germany.
In its statistics on "Accidents at work", it reports the following figures for 2023:
- Reportable accidents (at least four days of downtime) involving knives, chef's knives and cutters in the workplace: 35,383
- This represents 56.8% of all reportable accidents involving non-power-driven hand tools (including knives, hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, scissors, saws, etc.).
The good news: the number of reportable accidents is declining:
- 2023: approx. 35,400 accidents
- 2021: approx. 40,000 accidents
- 2017: approx. 43,000 accidents
This shows that occupational safety is continuing to improve in German companies and that safety knives are becoming an increasingly common part of users' personal equipment.
The DGUV reporting statistics also show the distribution of accidents involving non-power-driven hand tools by working environment:
- Industry/commerce: 47.8%
- Construction sites: 22.6%
- Services: 20.8%
Everything from four days onwards
Important to know: The DGUV figures only refer to reportable cases involving incapacity to work for four days or more. Less serious cuts resulting in absences of less than four days are not included in the DGUV reporting statistics. The number of unreported cases of accidents at work is therefore significantly higher.
How long is the average period of incapacity for work?
This makes the question of how long an affected user is actually out of action after a cutting accident all the more interesting. The publicly available data on this is rather sparse.
- The German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the food and hospitality industry reports 7.4 days of incapacity for work following a knife-related accident at work.
- For the meat industry (where safety knives play hardly any role), the figure is 14 days of incapacity for work.
Based on these figures and on estimates and projections, the following loss rates in the various industries following a cutting accident can be calculated:
A. Catering/food businesses
- Average downtime per cutting accident requiring treatment: approx. 7.4 days
- Distribution estimation:
- 0–3 days: 45%
- 4–14 days: 40%
- 15–42 days: 12%
- 42 days: 3%
B. Meat industry / Cutting
- Average downtime: approx. 14 days
- Distribution estimation:
- 0–3 days: 30%
- 4–14 days: 40%
- 15–42 days: 20%
- 42 days: 10%
C. Industry/manufacturing (e.g. goods receipt, order picking)
- Average downtime (estimated): 7–10 days
- Distribution estimation:
- 0–3 days: 40–45%
- 4–14 days: 35–40%
- 15–42 days: 12–18 per cent
- 42 days: 3–5%
D. Construction trades / skilled trades (e.g. drywall installation, floor laying)
- Average downtime (estimated): 8–12 days
- Distribution estimation:
- 0–3 days: 35–45%
- 4–14 days: 35–40%
- 15–42 days: 15–20%
- 42 days: 3–5%
E. Warehouse/Logistics (goods receipt, parcel handling)
- Average downtime (estimated): 6–10 days
- Distribution estimation:
- 0–3 days: 45–55%
- 4–14 days: 30–35%
- 15–42 days: 10–12%
- 42 days: 2–3%
The periods refer to the severity of the cuts, which will also be briefly explained:
Minor cuts (superficial, plaster/short bandage, no deep cuts, no tendon/nerve involvement)Approximate downtime 0–3 days
Moderate cuts (deeper cutting edge, possibly requiring stitches, restricted movement but no permanent damage)Approximate downtime4–14 days
Serious cuts (involving tendons/nerves, large wound, hospitalisation/surgery may be required)Approximate recoverytime2–6 weeks
Very severe cuts (complex injuries, possible permanent damage, long rehabilitation)Approximate downtime> 6 weeks to several months
Safety knives as a solution
Even though the figures are trending downward, at least in Germany, there is still an incredible amount of work to be done. Every day, there are still (too many) cutting accidents, often with serious consequences for those affected.
The most effective way to prevent accidents is to use the right tools and provide proper training. This is also demonstrated by our many positive case studies: companies that have switched to MARTOR safety knives have been able to minimise or even eliminate the number of cuts.
