Knives are widely used in veterinary practice, from tasks such as cutting twine off bales to performing a post mortem examination. It is important that knives are sharp to allow the task to be performed quickly and safely. Blunt knives carry a higher risk of injury due to the excessive force that must be applied to the blade.

Figure 1 Parts of a knife

Knife safety:

• Ensure blades are sharp – check before use and hone (sharpen) if necessary
• Store knives in a sheath or knife block to avoid chipping the blade
• Never place unsheathed knives in a drawer or other area people are going to put their hands in
• Always put down a knife as soon as you are finished using it
• Wash, disinfect (if necessary) and dry knives after every use
• NEVER try and catch a falling knife
• NEVER turn or move towards another person when holding a knife
• NEVER run with a knife in your hand
• NEVER cut towards yourself

Sharpening a knife: (see figure 2)

• Hold the steel upright in your non-dominant hand
• Ensure your fingers are safely underneath the guard on the steel
• Hold the clean and dry knife by the handle in your dominant hand
• Place the base of the blade at the top of the steel
• Hold the blade at an acute (10-15°) angle to the steel
• Briskly and smoothly pull the knife edge along the steel, from base to tip
• Repeat on the opposite side
• Continue in a brisk rhythm until the blade is sharp (a correctly sharpened knife should cut a tomato or grape effortlessly)

Alternative method: (see figure 3)

• Hold the steel in your non-dominant hand
• Place its tip on a non-slip surface e.g. a chopping board or table top covered with a folded tea towel or napkin
• Hold the steel perpendicular to the surface
• Hold the knife in your dominant hand
• Place the base of the blade at the bottom of the steel, above the finger guard
• Hold the blade at an acute (10-15°) angle to the steel
• Briskly and smoothly pull the knife edge along the steel, from base to tip
• Repeat on the opposite side
• Continue in a brisk rhythm until the blade is sharp

Additional images to be added