Many employers are seeking safer cutting tools to help prevent their employees from injuring themselves. However, there are so many kinds of safety knives on the market that it can be overwhelming. Brands use different words to describe similar safety knives, making it difficult to figure out exactly what to look for. What is the safest option for an exposed blade knife? While there plenty of knives that have fixed or manually retractable blades, they are not the safest. The two safest types of exposed blade knives are the semi-retractable knife and the fully automatic retractable knife. 

Semi-Automatic Safety Knives 
The biggest advantage of a semi-automatic retractable knife over a fully automatic retractable knife is the price point. They are usually more affordable than fully automatic retractable safety knives because they are a more mature technology, but they are still a safe option. The semi-retractable knife is like a manually retractable knife, but it has a spring that retracts when the blade is at the end of the material being cut. However, it also has a slider that can be controlled by the operator. If the operator of the knife keeps their thumb on the slider, the spring will not retract at the end of the material, allowing the blade stay exposed until the operator retracts their thumb.

Fully Automatic Retractable Safety Knives
For employers that need an exposed blade knife, but want to go with the safest option out there for their employees, the fully automatic retractable smart knife is the best option. This is the latest technology for safety knives, and while it may be a higher investment, this is the best technology to keep the operator safe from cuts and injuries. The fully automatic retractable blades are like the semi-automatic ones in that the blade retracts at the end of the material being cut. However, the newer technology takes it a step further. The operator cannot stop the blade from retracting by keeping the slider pushed forward with their thumb. The blade will retract at the end of the cut regardless of whether the operator keeps the slider pushed forward or not. This lessens user error by removing the retraction control of the knife from the operator completely.