HEALTH AND SAFETY RULES IN THE WORKSHOP

HEALTH AND SAFETY

INTRODUCTION

Workshops can be dangerous places. They are full of machines and tools that are designed to cut hard, rigid materials, and unfortunately every year people are injured in them through having accidents. Sometimes these accidents are just bad luck, but in most instances they are the result of people behaving wrongly, or not understanding how to do something correctly.

THE WORKSHOP AS AN ENVIRONMENT

A school workshop is not a classroom, it is a very special environment. All school workshops are different, but most of them contain the same kinds of equipment, working areas and storage for hand tools and materials. As there are similarities, some general rules can be made about keeping these environments safe.

Workshop Safety Rules

Before you can use equipment and machines or attempt practical work in a workshop you must understand basic safety rules. These rules will help keep you and others safe in the workshop.

 PERSONAL SAFETY

• Workshops should be kept clean and tidy. Enter the workshop only with your teacher's permission.

• School bags should be put in one corner of the workshop as soon as you enter it. They should not be kept around benches where they can be fallen over.

• Scrap offcuts of material should be picked up and put into scrap bins.

• Never blow dust away from the work area, use a hand brush to sweep it onto the floor.

• Keep the area you are working in clear of excess tools and materials.

• Put materials away once you have taken what you need.

• Put tools back in their racks or cupboards once you have used them.  Use correct tools for your work.

• Always carry tools, especially edged tools, for example chisels and saws, with their cutting edges pointing downwards. Never use any tools or machines unless you have been properly instructed by the teacher.

• When carrying materials that are large or long, for example sheet plastics or lengths of wood, be very aware of the other people around you.

• Never run in a workshop. There is no need to and it is very dangerous.

• You should at all times wear adequate protective clothing, for example an apron.

• You must wear safety glasses, goggles and when necessary a full face shield when using machine tools or carrying out hazardous operations. A machine must always be operated by one student at a time.  Switch off the machine before adjusting or cleaning.  Press the emergency button in case of accident and inform the teacher immediately.

• It is dangerous to wear loose jewellery in a workshop. Take it off and give it to your teacher to look after until the end of the lesson.