Procedure No.: WYN032.086 Page: 1 of 7 Revision History Revision Date Revision Number 9/2/14 Original Nature of Change Original document developed to incorporate knife use as outlined in BC032.030 General Requirements Safety & Health
Procedure No.: WYN032.086 Page: 2 of 7 1. PURPOSE The intent of the is to establish guidelines for the selection and use of appropriate cutting tools at the Wyandotte site. 2. SCOPE The applies to all employees, contract employees, and contractors at the Wyandotte site. Excluded from this safety policy are: Tools used in the preparation or consumption of food Tools that are generally accepted and purposely designed for use in maintenance activities (ex. use of tin snips for cutting duct work, use of wire strippers for stripping wire, etc.). Tools used by contractors where those tools are general accepted tools of the trade, are familiar to that contractor and cannot be substituted by more inherently safe tools. 3. DEFINITIONS 3.1. Cutting Tool A non-powered hand tool used to cut a material or an object. 3.2. Diagonal Wire Cutter Hand tool used primarily to cut strands of wire, plastic tie wraps or other small diameter items 3.3. Exposed Blade Knife A knife that does not have a retractable blade. An example includes an exacto knife. 3.4 Open Blade Knife Any knife that has a blade that is not protected by a guard, hood, or other permanent covering that would prevent the blade from contacting the user if inadvertent contact were to occur; this includes self-closing/automatic retracting knives.
Procedure No.: WYN032.086 Page: 3 of 7 3.5 Retractable Blade Knife A type of knife that has a retractable blade that can be locked in a fixed position. 3.6 Self-Retracting Blade Knife A knife that has a blade which is spring loaded and self-retracting. The knife requires the user to expose the cutting blade by pushing forward on a lever on the side or top of the knife. The blade will automatically retract inside the knife casing when the blade leaves the cutting surface or the lever is released. 3.7 Shears Scissors type cutting tool used to cut materials such as paper, plastic, metal sheeting and metal/plastic banding straps 3.8 Sheet Material Cutter A tool with a hidden, recessed blade used for cutting plastic shrink wrap or opening boxes. 4. PROCEDURE 4.1. General Instructions 4.1.1. Only use the cutting tool for what it is designed for. 4.1.2. The following actions are prohibited: o Exceeding the recommended capacity of the tool o Using tools that are cracked, broken, or loose o Extending the handle length to achieve greater cutting power o Hammering or applying excessive force or pressure on cutting tools. o Using personal pocketknives to complete any BASF related task. 4.1.3. Hands shall not be placed in the line of fire and all cutting motions should be away from the body and/or the hand. 4.1.4. When using a cutting tool with one hand, keep the other hand and other body parts / objects out of the line of fire. 4.1.5. Concentrate on the task at hand, making straight, even cuts without rocking, prying or twisting the tool.
Procedure No.: WYN032.086 Page: 4 of 7 4.2. Selection of a Cutting Tool 4.2.1. When selecting a cutting tool for the task, consider: o the task o type of material which the tool will be cutting o hardness of material which the tool will be cutting o size of the material which the tool will be cutting 4.2.2. A tool where the blade is not exposed or is where the blade is self-retracting shall be used for taped boxes, mailer envelopes, and general mail. 4.2.3. All tie wraps, plastic or wire, will be cut using tie wrap cutters. 4.2.4. Only utility knives with spring loaded, self-retracting blades shall be used only if there are no other tools for the job. 4.2.5. Any inherently safer blade design or concept that has been reviewed and approved for use by the Unit embedded or Site Environmental, Health and Safety Personnel will not require a JSA provided it does not meet the definition of an Open Blade Knife and it is safely protected by a guard, hood, or other permanent covering that would prevent the blade from contacting the user if inadvertent contact were to occur. 4.3. Maintenance of a Cutting Tool 4.3.1. Cutting tools will be kept in good condition. Cutting tools that need repair or replacement will be taken out of service immediately. 4.3.2. Blades will be replace/sharpened when dulled. 4.3.3. Only authorized personnel will perform repairs to cutting tools and sharpening of cutting tool blades (i.e., trained personnel / outside vendor). 4.4. Exposed Blade Tools 4.4.1. An exposed blade tool may be used if the tool with an exposed blade cannot be substituted by a safer tool with a non-exposed blade as determined by BASF Supervision in consultation with the EHS group. Kevlar or similar cut resistance gloves will be required to be worn on the off-hand while using the exposed blade tool pending the risk assessment and JSA that are required
Procedure No.: WYN032.086 Page: 5 of 7 to be completed. If the glove on the offhand creates a greater hazard then the variance from requiring its use must be reviewed with the EHS group prior to not requiring its use. A. Where chemical resistance is required or a severe reduction in manual dexterity or grip strength compromises the overall safety of a task, other appropriate hand protection may be selected. 4.4.2. When an exposed blade tool is used, including an Open Blade Knife, all of the following must be completed: A. A risk assessment performed according to Corporate Procedure BC032.007 Personal Protective Equipment. B. A standard operating procedure (SOP), work instruction, or job safety analysis (JSA) must be completed before use of the open bladed knife including the PPE required (e.g. cut-resistant gloves, gauntlets, chaps, or aprons as appropriate to the task and include the hazards of the task and methods to minimize the hazards. C. Training must conducted on the JSA, including the selection, proper use, and limitations of the exposed blade tool. Note: Knife restrictions must be communicated to all employees and added to the new employee and contractor site orientations. Standard exemptions: tasks where knives or sharp blades are used for food preparation or consumption and personal grooming. 4.4.3. Cutting tools with exposed blades will be stored properly. A. These tools will not be carried unsheathed in uniforms or work clothes. B. Cutting tools will be stored with the blade retracted and / or protected in cabinets, toolboxes, tool pouches or sheaths. 4.5 Training on Using a Cutting Tool 4.5.1 Each employee will received documented training on the Cutting Tool Safety Policy. Training will be documented and can be incorporated into the each group s safety meeting. 4.5.2 The safe use of cutting tools will be addressed in the Wyandotte site s safety rules along with this cutting tool standard. As necessary, refresher training on the safe use of cutting tools will be provided. 4.5.3 Contractors will also be trained on this policy as part of their contractor safety orientation.
Procedure No.: WYN032.086 Page: 6 of 7 5. RESPONSIBILITY 5.1. Site/Plant Manager The Site/Plant Manager has the primary responsibility for the implementation of the Cutting Tool Safety Policy. 5.2. EHS Site Services EHS Site Services has the responsibility for issuing, maintaining and interpreting the Cutting Tool Safety Policy. In addition the Wyandotte site EHS group will work with groups within the Wyandotte site to develop a list of approved cutting tools along with the tasks the tool is intended to be used for along with the required PPE. 5.3. Supervisors Department managers, Supervisors and Operations Leaders have the responsibility for enforcing the Cutting Tool Safety Policy. 5.4. Project Engineers/Maintenance/Construction Managers Project engineers, Maintenance and site contractor contact personnel have the responsibility to verify and ensure that all contractors comply with the Cutting Tool Safety Policy. 5.5. Employee/Contract Employee Each employee and contract employee is responsible and will be held accountable for following the Cutting Tool Safety Policy. 5.6 Contractors Contractors working on the Wyandotte site are responsible for understanding the Wyandotte, including identifying tasks that may be exempt from this policy as well as to identify approved type cutting tools.
Procedure No.: WYN032.086 Page: 7 of 7 6 Related documents Description of Procedure Corporate No. Wyandotte No. Wyandotte Site Safety Rules WYN032.005 Personal Protective Equipment BC032.007 WYN032.007 Safe Work Permit Procedure BC032.024 WYN032.054 General Requirements Safety & Health BC032.030