Electric Can Openers
Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.
Kitchen Cooking Appliances · CPSC Code 213
Up 84% over 5 years
The verdict
Electric Can Openers carry a danger score of 32/100 (low risk), driven by roughly 118 ER-treated injuries a year that are rising by about 84% over the last five years.
- 32/100
- danger score (low risk)
- 118
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 0.6%
- end in hospital admission
- 0-4
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 213 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 32/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for electric can openers - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume118 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)0.6%
- Fatality rate0.00%
- 5-year trend+84%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Electric Can Openers (CPSC product code 213, in the Kitchen Cooking Appliances category) generate an estimated 118 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 2,131 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 32/100 for this category (low risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are rising by about 84% over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2020 (313 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2016 (16 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for electric can openers is laceration to the finger, accounting for approximately 1,062 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by laceration to the hand (404 cases). The 0-4 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 448 cases over the NEISS window, and males appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 0.6% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 52 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how electric can openers fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)
Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 228 | 220 | |
| 5-14 | 0 | 152 | |
| 15-24 | 15 | 71 | |
| 25-34 | 18 | 313 | |
| 35-44 | 162 | 143 | |
| 45-54 | 110 | 181 | |
| 55-64 | 17 | 148 | |
| 65-74 | 78 | 101 | |
| 75+ | 34 | 141 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Finger | Laceration | |
| Hand | Laceration | |
| Finger | Other | |
| Finger | Amputation | |
| Lower Arm | Laceration | |
| Upper Trunk | Fracture | |
| Finger | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Toe | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Face | Laceration | |
| Foot | Laceration | |
| Shoulder | Strain, Sprain | |
| Upper Trunk | Other | |
| Wrist | Laceration | |
| Head | Internal Injury | |
| Head | Laceration |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
77YOF LACERATIONS TO 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH FINGERS WHILE USING ELECTRIC CAN OPENER AT HOME, DX: LACERATION
2 YOF PRESENTS WITH FINGER LACERATION S/P ACCIDENTALLY CUT FINGER ON AN ELECTRIC CAN OPENER AT HOME. DX: FINGER LACERATION
77 YOF HAD A CAN OPENER FALL ON HER FOOT. DX: LEFT FOOT LACERATION.
20MOF REACHED UP TO THE COUNTER AND CUT FINGER ON ELECTRIC CAN OPENER DX LACERATION OF FINGER
73YOF TO ER FOR LACERATION & CONTUSTION OF LEFT THUMB, PT CUT LEFT THUMB ON ELECTRIC CAN OPENER WHEN REACHED INTO CABINET AT HOME DX CONTUSION LEFT THUMB, LACERATION LEFT THUMB W/O FOREIGN BODY
30YOF PT WAS USING AN ELECTRIC CAN OPENER WHEN SHE CAUGHT HER PINKY FINGER. DX: FINGER LACERATION.
2 YOF CUT FINGER ON BLADE OF ELECTRIC CAN OPENER DX: LAC RT INDEX FINGER
28YOF PRESENTS WITH LT 4TH DIGIT FINGER PAIN AFTERT GETTING HER FINGER STUICK IN AN ELECTRIC CAN OPENER. DX: LT RING FINGER PAIN
45YOM DEVELOPED INFECTION AFTER LAC FINGER USING ELECTRIC CAN OPENER, DX: FINGER INFECTION & FINGER LAC
75YOF PT STATES SUSTAINED CUTS FROM THUMB FROM A ELECTRIC CAN OPENER AT HOMEDX LACERATION TO RIGHT THUMB
2YOF MOTHER STATES CHILD TOUCHED THE SHARP/BLADE OF AN ELECTRIC CAN OPENER AT HOMEDX LACERATION LEFT MIDDLE FINGER
31YOF WAS OPENING UP A CAN WITH AN ELECTRIC CAN OPENER AND CAUGHT HER RIGHT HAND DX: LACERATION TO HAND
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
Some time after purchasing the Hamilton Beach model76606 electric can opener (over a year) it started to require more than one turn around a can and now will not open a can at all. Also, as it was failing to cut it would track differently on multiple turns and shave off fine metal turnings that clung to the can and the opener mechanism. The metal shavings are at great risk of getting into the food and since the can be very fine could be ingested without the consumers knowledge. I can attest to their ability to puncture flesh since I got a sliver in my finger as I was disassembling the unit to discover what the problem was. I discovered that the cutting wheel edge was completely worn down. In my opinion it was not properly tempered to stand up to normal household service for any reasonable length of time.
I bought a new Hamilton Beach electric can opener (Abrelatas Smooth Touch) and tried to open a can. In the process of opening the can, it created some long slivers of metal, very thin, almost couldn't see them. If they got in my food I could choke to death - that metal sliver would cut a persons throat up.
The Quisinart electric can opener I bought for $58.00 leaves a wirelike shaving in the food when opening the can
We bought a Tornado battery operated can opener and opened a bunch of cans. The can opener created super thin sharp needle like shards about an inch long and we feared the shards might come off in the contents as they are poured out. Walmart sells the item as well as direct tv marketing.
The caller stated that the electric can opener cuts on the outside of can which leaves shreds of metal which falls from the cutter into the content of the can. She is concerned that this is a safety hazard and should be reported. The manufacturer was not contacted as yet. The product is not included in a recall.
Can opener does not open can on first rotation. Multiple rotations produces metal shavings. These cans must be discarded. The cutting wheel is worn and needs to be replaced. Hamilton Beach was contacted and said the wheel cannot be replaced on this model. It can be replaced with the removal of 6 cover screws and one set screw for the cutting wheel and remove the drive capstan. After calling Hamilton Beach 800-851-8900. I was told the cutting wheel was not replaceable and it was not repairable. I was given a code for a 40% discount on their web site. They would add $11.49 for shipping. This brings the total to around $33. This product is $28 at Walmart. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hamilton-Beach-Smooth-Touch-Can-Opener-Model-76606/5924593 Making the discount useless. It a shame that they will not sell new cutting wheels. It make this product disposable. Users that do not see the metal shaving could be in trouble.
I bought a Hamilton beach can opener from "Amazon top choice" 3 year's ago. When u open a can it leaves metal shavings. Just want to let u know. I contacted Amazon to no avail and Hamilton beach no answer yet. I included pictures and videos. Please recall this product. Ty
Caller is reporting that while using the device to remove the cover from a glass jar it snapped off becoming a projectile which hit his grandson in his stomach. He stated that the child was not injured but it could have hit him in the face. He stated that he had only used it twice before the incident. Caller contacted the company and they advised him to take pictures of the device and submit it for a claim, he was offered a replacement but he declined due to the safety hazard.
Showing 8 of 52 reports.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to electric can openers on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are electric can openers?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, electric can openers have a danger score of 32/100 (low risk). An estimated 118 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from electric can openers?
The most common injury is laceration to the finger, accounting for approximately 1,062 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from electric can openers increasing or decreasing?
Up 84% over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for electric can openers injuries?
The 0-4 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 448 cases recorded over 20 years. Males are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by electric can openers?
Of all ER visits involving electric can openers, approximately 0.6% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (99.4%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with electric can openers?
You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
Related Products in Kitchen Cooking Appliances
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 32/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.
- See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
- Injuries cluster in the 0-4 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
- Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls
NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.
Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.
