Which safety rule is essential when handling blades in microtomy?

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Handling sharp blades safely hinges on preventing unexpected contact with the edge. The most important rule is to never leave a knife unattended. If a blade is left out on a bench or within reach, someone can accidentally grab it, brush against it, or step on it, leading to serious injury. Keeping the blade in the holder during cutting is essential for control and safety, but it doesn’t address the risk once you walk away. Storing blades in a tissue cabinet is unsafe because those spaces aren’t designed for sharps and can put others at risk. Disposing blades in regular waste is dangerous as it endangers waste handlers and others; blades should go into a designated sharps container. The key idea is to minimize exposure to the sharp edge at all times by never leaving the blade unattended.