Workshop health and safety rules to ensure a safe workplace


General
Safety Rules
1.
Don’t come to work if you are
sick, you’ll just make everyone else sick.
2.
Workers with any health issues
that need monitoring or special consideration must notify the Manager before
commencing work.
3.
Wear the appropriate PPE for the
tools you’re using, and if you’re unsure, ask.
a.
Wear hearing protection when
working in an environment that requires you to raise your voice to communicate
with others. At 85 dB(A), you will
typically have to raise your voice, while at 90 dB(A), you will have to shout
to be heard. Prolonged exposure to noise levels above 85 dB(A) causes
significant hearing damage.
4.
Before being used, all chemicals
must have a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and be reviewed through Chemwatch
by the Manager.
5.
Keep clear of any person
operating tools and machinery and refrain from talking to them unless urgent,
bumping into or distracting an operator could cause serious injury to you or
the operator
6.
Wash hands before eating food or touching
your face.
7.
Is the area you’re about to work
in free from any hazards? Be sure to keep
your work area tidy and clean up any spills immediately
8.
Is the work area prepared to
manage an emergency, such as with the correct type of fully charged fire
extinguishers and well-stocked first-aid kits?
9.
Always give your complete focus
to the task at hand and maintain secure footing and balance.
10. Clamps
or a vice should be used to hold your work wherever possible, always double-check
that your work-piece is properly secured before starting.
11. Store
flammable liquids in a flammable storage cabinet. Paints, solvents, petrol, kerosene,
thinners, turpentine, white spirits, pine oil, and linseed oil are just a few
examples.
Electrical
Safety
1.
Keep leads up off the floor get
tangled in a stray lead could cause serious injury.
2.
Protect yourself against electric
shock by adding a residual current device (RCD or safety switch) to the
electrical circuit. Use a portable RCD if an RCD is not installed.
3.
Electric instruments should be
kept away from oil, hot surfaces, and chemicals and not be used in moist areas
or where combustible gases or vapours are present.
4.
Treat all electrical devices as
if they are live or energized
5.
Wet hands should never be used to
operate switches or other electrical appliances, including sockets. This is
because a wet body can act as a good conductor of electricity, resulting in a electrocution
6.
Even if there is no visible
physical injury, an electric shock can cause internal damage. Even a minor
electric shock necessitates medical attention to determine whether it has
affected the heart. Always take someone who has been shocked to the nearest
emergency room for evaluation.
Power
Tools & Equipment – General Safety
1.
Read the operator’s manual for
all equipment and follow all safety measures.
2.
Know how to use the tools
properly and safely, ask questions if you’re unsure.
3.
Are your power tools and
equipment in good condition and properly guarded? Any damaged or broken
equipment or guarding must be reported to the workshop Manager immediately.
4.
Avoid wearing shirts with long
sleeves unless you roll them up, and remove any jewellery such as rings,
necklaces, or bracelets before working with power tools.
5.
Allow each tool to work at its
own pace, do not force them
6.
Tie back long hair to prevent it
from getting caught in your equipment.
7.
If a power tool stalls or jams
immediately turn it off.
8.
Power tools should be stored
carefully to avoid damage to the tool or cable
9.
Turn off all machinery before
making adjustments.
10. Wear
safety goggles to prevent injuries from
a.
Flying wood chips or sawdust
b.
Rotating/spinning equipment
failure – flying debris
11. To
reduce the amount of airborne sawdust, connect a dust extraction/vacuum to any
dust generating equipment with extraction capability.
Table/Contractor Saw Safety
1.
Wear Safety Glasses
2.
Wear hearing protection
3.
Wood must always be secured
firmly down
4.
Keep hands/fingers away from saw
blades,
5.
Never adjust saw or set-up while
saw is running
6.
Always use a push stick, you can
make one from scrap
7.
Never attempt freehand cuts. The
wood must always be firmly secured against the rip fence (a guide bar parallel
to the saw blade).
8.
Use the mitre gauge for making
crosscuts, hold work pieces securely at a set angle,
9.
Blade guards that encase the
blade while it is cutting must be intact and not damaged as they provide you
with protection and are to make sure your fingers don’t come into contact with
the blade.
Mitre Saw
Safety
1.
Wear a face shield, or safety
goggles/glasses.
2.
Use dust extraction and/or wear a
respirator or dust mask
3.
Wear hearing protection
Scroll
Saw Safety
1.
When using a scroll saw, never
wear gloves unless they are tight
fitting, or loose clothing
2.
Take off any watches or
jewellery.
3.
Long hair should be tied up and
back.
4.
Make sure the belt guard is
intact, closed up and secured before operating.
5.
Always use the appropriate saw
blade for the job.
Drill
Press Safety
1.
Wear tight-fitting clothing and
gloves and tie back long hair as you don’t want anything getting caught up in
the bit or spindle.
2.
Never attempt any form of set-up
or adjustments while the drill is operating and never start a drill with the
chuck key still in place.
Thickness
Planer Safety
1.
Do not wear loose clothing,
remove any jewellery, or wear watches.
2.
Roll up your sleeves if you’re
wearing a long sleeved shirt.
3.
When using a planer, avoid
wearing gloves unless they are tightly fitting.
4.
When the wood is in the planer,
don’t raise or lower the table.
5.
Wear a dust mask, eye and ear
protection, and run dust collection at all times.
6.
Always try to plane with the
grain as opposed to against it to avoid the wood tearing out.
Router
Safety
1.
When using a router freehand,
make sure the work-piece is securely clamped to your bench or work table.
2.
Keep your hands and fingers away
from the bit at all times, and always hold the router with both hands until the
motor has stopped.
3.
Never make any changes to a
router without first unplugging it.
4.
Inspect the bit for damage or
visible dullness after you’ve chosen it.
5.
Wear eye and ear protection, as
well as a dust mask or respirator, and connect your router to a dust vacuum or
extractor.
Hand
Tools Safety
1.
Maintain the cleanliness and
sharpness of your tools.
2.
Wear safety glasses when using
punches, chisels, hammers, or grinding tools.
3.
Use only tools designed for the
job and not handmade or altered tools.
4.
Keep no pointy or sharp tools in
your pockets.
5.
Check that you have enough light
to see what you’re doing; if you need more, simply ask.
6.
Use tools that are the correct
size and shape for the job.
7.
Instead of holding a small part
in your hand while working on it with a screwdriver, use a vice.
8.
Use a chisel with a cutting edge
the same width as or wider than the area to be cut, and the largest punch that
will suffice without binding for the job.
9.
Chisels and punches should be
held loosely in the palm of your hand with the palm up, or a tool holder can be
utilised.
10. When
using chisels and punches with mushroomed heads, use caution since metal can
chip off and cause injury.
11. Instead
of using a chisel, punch, or pry bar to remove gears, wheels, or bearings off a
shaft, use a pulling tool.
12. Do
not use a hammer with a fractured head or handle, or one with a mushroomed
striking face.
13. Wipe
oil, grease, and filth from tools using a clean rag before starting a project.
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