From tracking inventory to packaging items, safety managers have a lot of responsibilities around the warehouse. But first and foremost, they have to make sure work is getting done while everyone stays safe.

For most warehouse tasks, using a regular knife is hazardous as the lack of safety fail-safes causes injuries. That’s why safety knives have become so popular in warehouses around the country.

Whether it’s a job cutting shrink wrap or other materials commonly found in warehouses— MARTOR USA is here to help you find the best utility safety knives for shipping and receiving.

Why Can’t I Use a Regular Knife?

Using a regular utility knife to open bags and packaging in your warehouse is risky.

The most common materials in shipping and receiving are cardboard, shrink wrap, tape, and plastic banding. While occasionally cutting these materials with a regular knife might not seem dangerous, it only takes one incident to cause an injury. Frequent use of the wrong type of knife vastly increases the risk of hand lacerations.

Regular knives are missing a few critical elements compared to the best utility knives.

For example, ergonomic handles are designed for users who have to hold their knives for long periods. Retractable safety blades limit opportunities for lacerations. Both fail-safes are included in MARTOR USA’s utility knives, but the same can’t be said for regular knives.

Another piece to worry about when comparing regular knives to safety knives in the workplace is the blade's strength. MARTOR ceramic blades are stronger than the competition and interchangeable, so you don’t have to worry about dull blades or the potential injuries they can cause.

Finding yourself an all-in-one safety knife not only allows you to protect your employees but saves money long-term by not needing to re-purchase knives.

Valuing the safety of your employees is vital as a warehouse manager. It’s time to ditch the regular knives and upgrade to utility safety knives.

The Actual Cost of Hand Lacerations

Safety managers should know that hand lacerations are the most common type of hand injury in the workplace. Of the 1 million hand injuries that occur each year in the US, 63% are from knife lacerations.

The chance of injury increases when employees use regular knives and scissors to open boxes and packages all day.

And almost 100% of those workplace knife-related injuries are preventable.

Not only is using the wrong types of knives a safety hazard for employees, but it costs your company money. A company's average cost of work-related laceration injuries is $36,472.

Executives and EHS managers need a flexible knife for various cutting tasks and a safe blade to prevent work-related lacerations.

What Makes a Good Knife for Shipping and Receiving?

The best shipping and receiving knives cut all shipping materials while limiting the potential for injury.

To reduce the risk of workers getting hand lacerations, we recommend shipping and receiving executives and EHS managers invest in concealed blade safety cutters for their workers.

Since boxes and packages are often large and unstable, concealed blade knives are much safer for shipping and receiving cutting tasks. Exposed blade knives are dangerous because any time a worker slips or drops their knife while cutting an unstable box they could accidentally injure themself or another employee with the exposed blade.

Big box company stores and Amazon have already switched to concealed fixed blade knives for their shipping and receiving employees, resulting in fewer injuries in the workplace.

Another factor to consider when looking for the best utility safety knives is the type of handle. Your warehouse needs utility safety knives designed with the user’s hands in mind. Our safety knives are designed to prevent cramping and pain, whether held via power, hook, or precision grip style.

Lastly, to find the best utility safety knife for your warehouse, you want to work with a company you can trust. That’s what separates MARTOR from our competitors. We offer training programs and work alongside you to find the perfect safety knife for your business.

The MARTOR Difference

Between employee training videos and developing the most indestructible utility safety knives on the planet, MARTOR continues to be on the cutting edge with safety knife technology. Our strong blades, ergonomic handles, and retractable technology provide better protection against accidental slices.

MARTOR safety blades stay sharper 4x longer than the competitors because our blades are precision made in Solingen, Germany, a city known for blade craftmanship.

As for our ergonomic handles, the renowned Nuremberg Institute for Health and Ergonomics (IGR e.V.) recently announced MARTOR as the first knife manufacturer to bear the recognized IGR seal of quality.

MARTOR takes pride in the quality of our utility safety knives. Still, we believe our commitment to working with our customers from beginning to end makes the most significant difference. We work alongside you to develop safety knife training programs while delivering the best (and sharpest) safety knives on the planet.

MARTOR put together our top three favorite utility safety knives to make purchasing your next knife that much easier.

3 Best Knives for Shipping and Receiving

Our top MARTOR recommendations for the best utility safety knives are the SECUMAX 145, the SECUMAX 150, and the SECUMAX 350.

Each one has a concealed safety blade and is perfect for cutting all shipping materials. The SECUMAX 145 and 150 are disposable knives, while the SECUMAX 350 has a replaceable head.

1. SECUMAX 145

The SECUMAX 145 is a compact utility safety knife designed for any routine cutting task. Available with a metal detectable plastic handle, these knives slice through single-layered cardboard, film, and packing tape with ease while not getting lost in your packaging along the way.

The SECUMAX 145 Features:
● Concealed blade for a high level of safety
● Protects operator and product simultaneously
● Durable body made of metal detectable plastic for detectability
● Double-sided head for multiple uses
● Cuts material up to 1/8" thick
● Stainless blade for cleanliness

2. SECUMAX 150

Featuring a concealed blade, the SECUMAX 150 protects its users without having to sacrifice cutting ability. This handle is versatile as it is an all-in-one tool to cut, scrape and split anything your warehouse throws at it. Available in MDP format, there’s no need to worry about the SECUMAX 150 being unretrievable.

SECUMAX 150 Features:
● Concealed blade for a high level of safety
● Protects operator and product simultaneously
● Durable body made of polycarbonate plastic
● Double-sided head for multiple uses
● Cuts material up to 3/16" thick

3. SECUMAX 350

One of the crown jewels of MARTOR’s utility safety knife lineup is the SECUMAX 350. This knife features a two-in-one blade head perfect for cutting all standard materials, from film to plastic-strapping, as well as paper and 2-ply cardboard. Plus, there’s a concealed blade in the handle to maximize efficiency.

SECUMAX 350 Features:
● Concealed blade for a high level of safety
● Protects operator and product simultaneously
● Durable body made of polycarbonate plastic
● Double-sided head for multiple uses
● Replaceable head for maximum economy
● Cuts material up to 3/16" thick

MARTOR is Home to the Best Utility Safety Knives

When looking for the best utility safety knives, remember that safety is in the handle, not the blade. MARTOR’s vast selection of safety knives, training videos, and customer service put us ahead of the competition.