A safety scalpel, including a handle, a scalpel blade extending from the handle, a footplate pivotably connected to the handle, a biasing member operationally connected to the footplate for providing a biasing force urging the footplate to pivot away from the scalpel blade, and a slot formed through the footplate and positioned to pass the scalpel blade at least partially therethrough when the footplate is pivoted against the biasing force and towards the scalpel.
