No gloves here, but very careful. I have a Fiskars ruler which is a cuttr, and last week curled my index finger over the COVERED blade and got it trapped, the moment of panic was when I could not pull my finger back out, the blade was cutting into the fingernail. Was about to call hubby for help when I decided to pull up very hard on the blade guard, and whew the finger escaped. I had visions of the tip of my index finger going away!!! Now Iam SUPER careful.:)