Position of the American Knife and Tool Institute on the Knife and Tool Industry as an Essential and Critical Infrastructure Workforce during COVID-19 Response

Situational Overview:

Due to the health crisis, local governing bodies in states, localities, tribes and territories are necessarily making critical decisions to protect individuals in their area.  These decisions include which industries and businesses are essential to keep operational during this crucial phase of responding to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To help make those decisions, the “Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce” was published on March 28, 2020, on the website for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.  The federal agency developed an advisory list intended to help State, local, tribal and territorial officials make decisions on the continuity of functions critical to public health and safety, as well as economic and national security.  The list highlights 16 various categories of essential and critical work.¹

The Knife and Tool Community:

• Proudly supports heroes in the public safety, law enforcement, first responders, and health care fields every day
• Provides critical tools that are used daily in lifesaving situations and procedures, including during the COVID-19 crisis
• Supports the U.S. military community, including the National Guard as they are deployed to support our hardest hit communities
• Provides valuable tools to keep infrastructure operational, plumbing, water, communications and agriculture working properly, which are extremely important to institutions and individuals.

The Knife and Tool Industry:²

• Includes over 5000 direct employees and over 23,520 support employees
• Generates over $5 billion in total economic activity
• Spans over the entire United States

Position:

The American Knife and Tool Institute (AKTI), a nonprofit trade association representing the knife industry and knife community, supports the position that the knife and tool industry is a “National Critical Infrastructure Industry,” and the employees who work in that industry should be considered “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers.”

AKTI urges all state and local authorities to enable the continued operations of the import and manufacture of knives and the supply chains they depend on.

Assistance:

For government officials dealing with decisions, the American Knife & Tool Institute can provide a letter of support for the knife businesses in your area detailing the value they provide as a critical infrastructure industry.  Contact us by email or call (307) 587-8296.

For the knife community, AKTI is providing business resources for dealing with the impact of the coronavirus on your business on our website.

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¹Categories of Essential and Critical Work

1. Healthcare/Public Health
2. Law Enforcement, Law Enforcement, Public Safety, and other First Responders
3. Food and Agriculture (including Hunting and Fishing)
4. Energy
5. Water and Wastewater
6. Transportation and Logistics
7. Public Works and Infrastructure Support Services
8. Communications and Information Technology
9. Critical Manufacturing
10. Hazardous Materials
11. Financial Services
12. Chemical
13. Defense Industrial Base
14. Commercial Facilities
15. Residential /Shelter Facilities and Services
16. Hygiene Products and Services

 ² AKTI State of the Industry Report, 2016.