What to do with Blades?

[rdm01]

We have large production table, few laminators and printers, and we also have clients come through our shop. Usually people like to have a blade within arms reach for speediness.

I am wondering, how do most shops deal with open xactos, straight-edges, and such. Are there policies in your shops? Systems to keep them away from people accidentally setting their hands on them?

I'd love to hear how it goes in your shops!

 

[Bly]

I make everyone wear boxing gloves.
The quality of work does suffer but it is safer when they get so frustrated they lash out.

 

[Gino]

For insurance reasons, most any company will forbid you to have customers in the work shop where they could be hurt. Most doorways will have a sign above them stating no customers beyond this point.

 

[Mosh]

I have a tool holder, knife, couple squeegies, grease pencil, scissors I carry this all day on my belt.
all other knifes and stuff are in shelves put away. I don't let customers back in the work area, but I have kids, that is my reasons.

 

[ChicagoGraphics]

I don't let customers come in the work area

 

[MikePro]

if a client bleeds on our equipment, they are responsible for replacement.

 

[vid]

I think a member here came up with the idea putting a rain gutter on the edge of the table awhile back. Maybe it was a Signcraft tip. Anyway, it worked to store everything off the table: tapes, knives squeegees, rulers, etc.

I thought that to be a clever idea. I haven't done it, though. I'm good with a found wooden box sitting on the far edge of the production table and rulers on the wall. The box is similar to a silverware drawer divider. Sharp pointy things in one section... ummmm, it's pretty quick to figure out.

Our work flow isn't such that a knife be available all the time. BUT, we can find it within milliseconds BECAUSE we put them away in the same place every time ...and after "the incident," everyone became real conscientious about putting sharp pointy things away after using them.

Leaving unattended knives on the table is actually one of my peeves. That and throwing blades away in common trash. But, I digress...​

At home, I have a shallow pullout drawer under my workbench for stuff I use frequently. I really like that. It's got dividers, too.

 

[Z SIGNS]

Your kidding right?
How many people do you know have gotten hurt by an an razor blade laying around your shop.

 

[vid]

Your kidding right?
How many people do you know have gotten hurt by an an razor blade laying around your shop.

Not kidding. And I don't care about other people getting hurt, just me.

1. A customer came into the shop and was fiddling with an x-acto. At the end of the conversation, he sticks it into the self-sealing mat. I gave him the look, he pulls it out and puts it back in the box. I found the broken tip of the blade while I was wiping the table down as it raked across the heel of my hand.
   
2. The "shop dawg" (high school kid helping weed) sticks his foot in the trash can to mash down release paper to make more room. He pulls his foot out to find an x-acto knife stuck in his tennis shoe. --- The adhesive of the weeded vinyl caught the knife and was unknowingly thrown into that trash can.
   
3. One co-worker was brushing the table with a small dust broom and launched an x-acto at another's sandal clad feet. --- she did an outstanding dance to avoid the projectile. ...it stuck in the carpet.
   
4. An x-acto was stored point-up in one of those organizer things that fit in/around a 5 gallon bucket. Another co-worker found that with the tip of his finger as he reached around to spin the bucket looking for a tape measure.

So yeah, if there's two people in a room, and I think the other one might be a smidge more stupid, I think it's a good idea to have a policy about sharp pointy things.

Even beyond that, why would you not want to keep commonly used tools in a place where everyone knows where to find them. It's a production table. If the knife isn't in your hand, it's in the way.

 

[GAC05]

We use nothing but Olfa snap blades so no x-acto hazards in our shop.
On occasion we do attempt to snap the used olfa tips directly into the face of customers who don't understand the little "No customers in the work area" rule we have.........

wayne k
guam usa

 

[Techman]

never allow a customer to watch the creation of a sign.
Double never let them watch the creation of a cut vinyl banner.
You will have a war dance display if they see you laying down letters in about 10 mins and you charge them 150 bux.

 

[Drip Dry]

Not kidding. And I don't care about other people getting hurt, just me.

1. A customer came into the shop and was fiddling with an x-acto. At the end of the conversation, he sticks it into the self-sealing mat. I gave him the look, he pulls it out and puts it back in the box. I found the broken tip of the blade while I was wiping the table down as it raked across the heel of my hand.
   
2. The "shop dawg" (high school kid helping weed) sticks his foot in the trash can to mash down release paper to make more room. He pulls his foot out to find an x-acto knife stuck in his tennis shoe. --- The adhesive of the weeded vinyl caught the knife and was unknowingly thrown into that trash can.
   
3. One co-worker was brushing the table with a small dust broom and launched an x-acto at another's sandal clad feet. --- she did an outstanding dance to avoid the projectile. ...it stuck in the carpet.
   
4. An x-acto was stored point-up in one of those organizer things that fit in/around a 5 gallon bucket. Another co-worker found that with the tip of his finger as he reached around to spin the bucket looking for a tape measure.

So yeah, if there's two people in a room, and I think the other one might be a smidge more stupid, I think it's a good idea to have a policy about sharp pointy things.

Even beyond that, why would you not want to keep commonly used tools in a place where everyone knows where to find them. It's a production table. If the knife isn't in your hand, it's in the way.

Absolutely this....

We keep a old coffee can with a slot cut into the plastic lid. It's the rule that all sharps are put into the can. Every couple of years, my wife brings it to hospital to be disposed of properly.

 

[tsgstl]

We make sure if a customer comes back they are drunk. Much easier to manipulate their thoughts if something goes awry.

 

[CP Signs]

Olfa only here also. Mine is always on me. It's like my eleventh finger. Feel lost without it. My buddy is Commander for the local Ambulance. He brings me containers used for needles and we snap our blades in there. My table, as some of you have seen on here has everything I need within reach. Everything has a spot and everyone knows where things are. And I also have kids that come to the shop a lot.

 

[Kottwitz-Graphics]

Absolutely this....

We keep a old coffee can with a slot cut into the plastic lid. It's the rule that all sharps are put into the can. Every couple of years, my wife brings it to hospital to be disposed of properly.

I use an old soda bottle with the lid glued on and a slot cut into the lid. Works well