4 ways to automate in-house knife safety training

#1 - Simple training log

Who it's for: Chefs and managers who know knife safety and want to brief staff, with a record it happened.

What it is: In-house knife safety training is a short session a manager delivers to staff. This version is a checklist of the points to cover, using the right sharp knife, the claw grip and a stable board, carrying knives point-down, never catching a falling knife, safe storage, and keeping knives sharp, plus a field for who was trained.

Available on: Basic.

In practice: A head chef runs a new commis through the claw grip, steadying the board with a damp cloth, and stepping back rather than grabbing if a knife slips, and lists who attended. Fifteen minutes, and a record the team was trained.

Why it works: The points sit on the canvas, so the session covers the same ground every time. Listing who was trained up front means the record works whether you train one person or the whole team.

Steps included:

• 1 checklist (6 knife safety points to cover)
• 1 field for who was trained (names)

When to upgrade:

1. The manager delivering it wants the detail to hand
2. You need to show staff understood, not just attended
3. You run several sites and need a signed record per session

#2 - With guidance

Who it's for: Managers who want the actual content for each point so the session is consistent.

What it is: The simple log with guidance panels: the right knife for the job, the claw grip and stable board, carrying and passing knives, the falling-knife rule, and safe storage. Any manager can deliver the same session whether or not they know it cold.

Available on: Standard.

What it adds to the previous template:

1. The cutting technique and the falling-knife rule are on screen, not in the manager's memory
2. Every session covers the same material
3. A new manager can deliver it from day one

Why it works: The guidance carries the content, so the session doesn't depend on the trainer remembering the detail.

Steps included:

• 1 guidance note (the content for each point)
• 1 checklist (6 knife safety points)
• 1 field for who was trained

When to upgrade: When you need to show staff understood (Knife Safety Training #3), or a signed record per session (Knife Safety Training #4).

#3 - With check of understanding

Who it's for: Operations that need to show the training landed, not just that a session ran.

What it is: The guided session plus a short check of understanding: the trainer ticks what each trainee was able to show, the claw grip on a stable board, how to carry a knife, and the falling-knife rule.

Available on: Standard.

What it adds to the previous template:

1. The session records that staff could show the basics, not just watch
2. The record means more to an inspector than attendance alone
3. It flags who might need another run-through

Why it works: Attendance proves someone was in the room; a check of understanding proves they can do it.

Steps included:

• 1 guidance note (the content for each point)
• 1 checklist (6 knife safety points)
• 1 field for who was trained
• 1 check of understanding (3 competence items)

When to upgrade: When you need a signed, evidenced record per session for a multi-site standard (Knife Safety Training #4).

#4 - With photo and sign-off

Who it's for: Multi-site groups that need a signed training record for every session.

What it is: The checked session plus a photo of the session or the staff trained, and a single trainer signature confirming delivery to the staff named. One signature covers the session, however many attended.

Available on: Standard.

What it adds to the previous template:

1. A photo of the session as proof it happened
2. A single trainer signature confirming delivery to the named staff
3. A complete, dated training record per session, comparable across sites

Why it works: The trainer signature plus the names captured up front is the record, without needing a signature from every attendee.

Steps included:

• 1 guidance note (the content for each point)
• 1 checklist (6 knife safety points)
• 1 field for who was trained
• 1 check of understanding
• 1 photo of the session
• 1 trainer signature

When to upgrade: When you want Poppi to track who's due a refresher, or roll every site's sessions into one training report. Those versions are coming in the next post update.

How to pick the right version

You don't need to know our product to choose. Just answer three questions.

Does the manager delivering it know knife safety well?

If they do and just want a record, a plain log is enough. If not, the content needs to be on the screen. If the trainer knows it cold, #1 is fine. Otherwise start at #2.

Do you need to show staff understood, or just attended?

An attendance log shows a session ran; a check of understanding shows staff could do the basics. If attendance is enough, stop at #2. If you need to show it landed, #3 adds the check.

Do you need a signed record?

In one site, the log speaks for itself. Across sites, you want a signed, comparable record. If no sign-off is needed, #3 is enough. If you run more than one site, #4 adds a photo and a trainer signature.

Related reading

• Knives risk assessment - the assessment behind this training
• Kitchen risk assessment - the wider kitchen hazards
• In-house first aid training - treating a cut

Frequently asked questions

Why train staff on knife safety?

Knife cuts are among the most common kitchen injuries, and most are preventable with good technique. Training staff and recording it shows you've taken reasonable steps, which matters if anyone is hurt.

How is this different from the knives risk assessment?

The knives risk assessment covers the hazards and controls; this session trains staff in safe technique and records that they can show it. The two work together.

How do I record who was trained when numbers vary?

List the names up front and the trainer signs off once to confirm delivery to those staff.

Where to go next

In-house knife safety training turns safe cutting technique and knife handling into a short repeatable session with a record it happened and landed. The versions above move from a simple log to a signed, checked record.

Five more versions are coming in the next refresh that bring AI into the training. Poppi can track who's due a refresher and roll every site's sessions into one report. Those need more review time and will land separately.

→ Build your own in-house knife safety training on Pilla. The Basic plan unlocks the simple log today.