**FIRST EMAIL**/Safety At the Events, NEW Eye and Face Protection Policy and Student

[Pavan Dave]

**FIRST EMAIL**/Safety At the Events, NEW Eye and Face Protection Policy and Student Safety Captain Meeting Information

Greetings Teams:

Safety is a solid investment in human capital that brings tangible rewards to those who practice safe work habits. As you know, the FIRST Robotics Competition espouses safety as a core value and has established the framework for safety leadership, all detailed in the 2007 FRC Team Safety Manual. We are confident you have all been practicing the safe work habits described within, especially during the now successfully completed build period, and we congratulate you - on both counts!

With the first week of regionals about to get underway, we ask your help in continuing to make safety a top priority at the events. To this end, we ask all team members thoroughly review the safety manual located at:

http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles...fet_Manual.pdf

There is important event information regarding Safety Requirements, Safety Inspections, Injury Reporting, Personal Protective Equipment and the Safety Awareness and Recognition Program, to name a few. Of special note, the "Personal Protective Equipment -- Eye and Face Protection" policy has changed. NEW this season, safety glasses must be worn at all times in the following areas:

* anywhere in the Pit area, including walkways and the pit station;
* the Playing field,
* the Practice field,
* any area where the use of eye protection is posted,

Also NEW this season, the adult in charge of registering the team must show at least four (4) pairs of approved safety glasses at registration, and will have to confirm that he/she has read and understands the NEW safety glasses policy.

IMPORTANT: even though teams will be required to show four (4) pairs at registration, every team must bring enough safety glasses---ANSI-approved, non-shaded safety glasses with approved side shields --- for all team members. If persons wear prescription glasses, and they are not approved safety glasses, they must wear safety goggles over them to achieve adequate protection.

If you have guests coming to see your team, you may want to bring additional glasses for them as well. FIRST will have limited numbers of safety glasses to loan to visitors (only).

Finally, we want to remind teams to wear closed-toed shoes, wear work gloves when necessary, and to use earplugs, which are available at the Pit Administration Station, when needed.

Student Safety Captain Meeting:

There will be a safety meeting for all Student Safety Captains at 10:00 am on Thursday at the events. Details on the meeting location will be provided at each event. Additional information about the Student Safety Captain can be found in the 2007 FRC Team Safety Manual, page 2.

If you have any questions please contact us at frcteams@usfirst.org.

We wish you all a Fun and Safe time at the events this season!

Go Teams!