[Jon Stratis]

Any safety test should include questions specific to the machines in use in your shop - where to place you hands, which machines should be used with hearing protection, where the emergency stop is, how to handle material in the machine, which materials are appropriate for which machines, etc. For us, everyone has to pass both a written test AND be observed using the proper procedures and making the correct decisions with a machine before the mentors stop hovering with their hand on the emergency stop. We still observe and supervise, it just becomes a lot easier and less stressful once a student has proven she knows how to use things properly.