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Shop Safety Policies

Policy

Hours of Operation

General Shop Hours: Same as the rest of the floor.
Power tool shop hours:
  • Opens at the same time as the rest of the floor.
  • Closes one hour before the floor closes (11 PM)
  • Power tool shop shuts at 11 PM regardless of whether the floor is open late, no matter what.
Note: general shop activity should stop at least half an hour before closing, to allow proper cleanup time.

Safety

NO FOOD OR DRINK IS ALLOWED IN ANY SHOP AREAS!!!!

Safety Sessions

ALL STUDENTS MUST ATTEND A SAFETY SEMINAR ONCE A YEAR AND TAKE THE SAFETY QUIZ IN ORDER TO USE THE SHOP. This is required by law.
To repeat, this mean every person who plans to use the shop is required by law to attend a safety session, including first, second and whatever-year ITP students and outside students as well. We'll be holding these every weekday for the first three weeks of the semester. There will be a sign-up sheet for these sessions on the whiteboard nearest the power tool in the shop. We can accommodate up to 12 people per session, so please sign up in advance. If you're using the shop and we know you haven't attended a safety session, you will have to stop working.

ITP Power Tool Shop Safety Rules

WEAR SAFETY GOGGLES WHEN YOU USE POWER TOOLS. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE. ENFORCEMENT OF THIS RULE WILL BE UNCOMPROMISING AND ABSOLUTE.
General Power Tool Safety
  1. Never use a tool without someone else in the shop.
  2. Never use a tool you haven't been trained on, or which you are uncomfortable using.
  3. Never use a tool when fatigued, or under the influence of any drugs (including cold medicines, etc. that make you drowsy, or hyperactive
  4. Never walk away from a tool that is in motion or in mid-cycle. The machine should be still and the switch should be in the OFF position.
  5. Adjusting guards or measuring material should not be done while the machine is running.
  6. Certain power tools will only be available when a lab assistant is on duty. If you need to use that tool and have been trained on it, and it is not available, contact the lab assistant.
  7. Power to the tools is turned off at 11 PM. Do not ask a staff member to leave the tools on late for you.
  8. Always wear proper clothing when using power tools (no open toed shoes, no loose clothing that will catch in the moving parts).
  9. Do not wear gloves when operating power tools.
  10. Always tie long hair back when using power tools.
  11. Always use goggles when using power tools. If the tool is very loud, use ear protection too.
  12. Never use noxious chemicals or aerosols in the shop. Spray paint outside or elsewhere.
  13. Never use a damaged tool. If a tool is damaged, report it immediately and have a staff member mark it as damaged. If there are no staff members around, please mark the tool yourself
  14. Use power tools in the power tool area only. Close the door to lessen noise whenever possible.
Tool Safety
Read the Safety Primer for information about shop safety and tool use.
The Accident Survey will allow you to search common woodworking accidents

Chemicals

IF IT SMELLS BAD, DON'T USE IT HERE Ventilation in the shop is not designed to clear the air of toxic chemicals. THEREFORE YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE AEROSOLS OF ANY KIND, PAINT, VARNISH, STAINS, POLYURETHANE, OR VOLATILE ADHESIVES.
NO PAINTS OF ANY KIND There is also no slop sink, which is another reason why paints, even water soluble ones, are not allowed.
THERE MUST BE A MSDS ON FILE There is a binder with the Materials Safety Data Sheets of chemicals that people have previously used in the shop. Students are responsible for checking with someone on the shop staff before bringing in anything not previously approved. This is required of us by law.
Materials Safety Data Sheet archives:
UNAPPROVED SUBSTANCES MAYBE CONFISCATED AT ANY TIME.

Clean Up

PUT THINGS AWAY THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT The shop is open to ITP students, and when no one is there, all equipment should be put away and the shop left neat. If you are the only person in the shop and you leave, put all tools away whether you took them out or not, and clean up. When you are finished with a tool, put it away and clean up your area. This includes soldering irons, soldering aids, all hand tools, and any mess made by your tool.
IF YOU STAY LATE, CLEAN UP IS YOUR JOB If you are staying later under staff supervision, you are assuming responsibility for shop cleaning. Give your name to the person who is assigned to cleaning that night so they can pass it on to Tom and the physical computing resident team.

Storage

Properly storing materials is an issue of safety, security and community. Safety to prevent people from hurting themselves or projects. Security because we are not alone in this building or this city. And community because we all need to use an area with limited space. Here are some guidelines for keeping stuff in the shop.
NO FOOD OR DRINK IS ALLOWED IN ANY SHOP AREAS!!!! This includes being stored back there.
USE THE RIGHT COLOR TAPE WITH CONTACT INFORMATION Label everything you are going to store here with the YELLOW gaffer's tape, available chained to the short red tool cabinet. Anything with last year's tape, or anything unlabeled, will be thrown out or is up for grabs. Please include your name, email, and a number we can reach you at.
STORE IT IN THE RIGHT PLACE
  • The rolling storage racks are available for student storage. You may bring in containers other than a blue bin if there aren't any available, but please try to limit yourself to the area occupied by a single bin.
  • There is vertical storage in the corner of the shop for large sheets of material. Please check there for any abandoned materials before you bring in anything new.
  • Never block an exit or the flow of traffic.
THROW IT AWAY IN THE RIGHT PLACE There are marked HAZMAT containers, a junk shelf, a dumpster, bins for scrap wood...
PAY ATTENTION to what you've got, and where you put it.
TAKE TIME when setting up and cleaning up to note everything you took out of your bin, and are putting back. Write it down if you're forgetful.
USE YOUR LOCKER if it's valuable.
WATCH OUT FOR EACH OTHER. Take note of what your classmates are doing when you're in the lab together. Talk to each other. Sometimes the simple act of conversation helps you remember what someone else was doing when you talked, and you can help them remember what they misplaced.
TAKE THINGS HOME if you're not using them. There is limited storage space, so 'please store only what's absolutely necessary' for projects you're currently working on. Anyone taking more space than is appropriate will be asked to clear off space for others. This means ALL projects, cardboard, etc. which you've already shown in class, or won't touch until the end of the semester.
And most importantly:
HAVE RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER. Don't take anything that's not yours. If you borrow, ask before borrowing, and leave a note saying thanks, so the person doesn't forget and think it's stolen. Help each other remember where things are, and watch out for each other's stuff. Treat everyone's project and materials with the care you treat your own.

Hand Tools

All handhelf power tools for the shop are kept in the equipment room. Because we had a number of important tools disappear in recent years, it's become necessary to make all hand power-tools checkout items. You will need to keep track of what you check out, and check back in all items when you leave.