Thread: Safety in the workshop
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Unread 29-12-2012, 20:47
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Mechanical Marauders - Alumnus
AKA: Paul Mangels
FRC #0271 (Mechanical Marauders)
Team Role: Mechanical
  
Join Date: Jan 2012
Rookie Year: 2011
Location: Bay Shore, NY
Posts: 406
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Re: Safety in the workshop
As pit safety captain, there are a few things you need to be aware of. Anybody using machinery, or anything else that spins with some power, such as a motor or gearbox, should have their hair tied back (for ladies and longer haired men). More commonly, sweatshirts drawstrings for hoods should be removed or tucked in, and sleeves rolled up. Goggles for everyone in the workspace pretty much all the time. Our team has a computer lab with a center area that we use as a dinner table, where we don't wear goggles, since we are separated from the machinery and workshop by a wall. Also, a good first aid kit is nice, and a bowl or cup of cold water placed far away from any electronics or machinery is nice to cool any hot pieces of metal, after things like cutting or sanding.

As far as glasses, the team supplies everybody with one pair, which comes free with our shirt orders, but mos of us buy different glasses that are more comfortable. Don't buy tinted glasses. At three or four FRC regionals that I have attended have asked teams not to wear these, for safety purposes, and you shouldn't either. My favorite pair is actually a free pair from the AndyMark booth at FIRST Championships last year.

As a general rule, no fooling around in the shop, pretty straightforward. Also a few weird things we have discussed:
No headphones while working, you need to hear everyone, and tthe machine you are using
Closed toed shoes, sandals are bad (pretty straightforward)
Keep the stereo on low volume, we just installed a new speaker system, but people need to be able to hear everything.
Also, don't leave hot things plugged in (soldering tools, glue guns, heat guns, etc)
And finally, check you batteries everyday, and don't leave them plugged in (we once found a damaged robot battery that swelled to double normal size, but luckily, we caught it early. Regularly inspect them for damage or bulging.

Sorry for the lengthy post, I'm sure you already knew most of this, since it is fairly straightforward. Good luck to you and your team in all of your future FIRST endeavors.