Tying back hair in the pits at competition

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

Having your hair tied back when you're in the same room as power tools (or a robot) is generally a good idea. While the immediate risk is less for anyone not working actively with them, you never know what situations may arise very quickly. This is especially true in an area as cramped and crowded as the pits at a competition. If an event occurs that forces people to move rapidly (say someone trips or loses control of a power tool), they may suddenly change from being at a safe distance to in a precarious position. Always tie your hair back. The benefit of free flowing hair does not outweigh the potential hazard, however unlikely.

Isn't this true regardless of the hair style? Someone who has hair tied back but hanging down to their waist is in just as much danger from a sudden event behind them as someone without hair tied back is to one in front of them.

The reason people tie their hair back is to keep it from hanging down in front of them while they work - if it hangs, it obstructs vision and dangles in the area they are working in. It is NOT done to handle sudden situations that may occur around them. If we want to concern ourselves with those situations, we would need to have anyone with long hair put it up in a tight bun or wear a shower cap to keep it contained.