Workshop Safety and Organisation: notes

Protecting yourself

• Personal protective equipment (PPE): wear an apron or overall, safety boots and goggles when machining or chiselling. Use ear protection near noisy machines and a dust mask when sanding.
• Hair and clothing: tie back long hair and roll up loose sleeves so a spinning cutter cannot catch them.
• Sawdust: fine dust harms the lungs and can cause allergies. Sweep it up often and use dust extraction where fitted.

Safe habits

• Guards: never remove a machine guard while the machine can run. Switch off and wait for the blade to stop before clearing a jam.
• Cutting tools: keep tools sharp, because a blunt tool needs more force and slips. Cut away from your body and keep both hands behind the cutting edge.
• Timber: carry long boards with a partner.
• Housekeeping: keep floors clear of offcuts, shavings and spilt finish so nobody trips or slips.

Fire and first aid

• Fire risk: shavings and dust burn quickly. Store rags soaked in oil or varnish in a metal bin with a lid, away from heat.
• Extinguishers: water for wood and paper fires; carbon dioxide (CO2) for electrical fires. Never use water on electrical equipment.
• Cuts: press a clean pad on the wound to stop bleeding, then report it to the teacher.

Signs

• Safety signs: red means stop or fire equipment, yellow means warning, blue means you must do something (such as wear goggles), green means safe condition or first aid.