Coworkers have large pocket knives, company doesn't have policy

manpreet Best Answer 3 years ago

I just started with a medium sized company in Ottawa, and I noticed a lot of engineers have one-handed pocket knives. ie: The kind you can push open with one thumb. I'm not comfortable working in an office where so many people carry weapons. Assuming no laws or company policies are being broken, how should I approach this?

manpreet 3 years ago

Well, I'm going to have to first address the loaded language in your post. Many people carry pocket knives solely or primarily as tools. In the case of most of Canada, save for in the wilderness, a pocketknife MUST be solely used as a tool, no matter the circumstances, or it is categorically a weapon. You seem to be conditioned into thinking knives are strictly weapons, when they are typically used as tools. In most legal jurisdictions, a tool like a pocket knife is not a weapon until it is used as a weapon, or the owner states that it is held with the intent for use as a weapon or as a weapon of opportunity.

Second, how large a knife are we talking? There are no length restrictions in most of the country, and so long as it's not a flick blade, push knife, switch blade, or balisong/butterfly-knife, it's likely legal. I am not a lawyer (IANAL), so when in doubt, consult a lawyer on this topic. Also, you would do well to learn your local knife laws: