WORKSHOP TECHNOLOGY

WORKSHOP SAFETY RULES

Definition of safety:
Precautions to avoid danger, threat from harm or injury to a person in secured condition. It is
a regulation in the workplace and the processes, operations and handling the equipment.
Importance of safety
In the workshop, accidents are unpredictable and common in all cases. Safety regulations be
followed to avoid accident.
To mitigate against accidents, workshops should be: -
(i) be well lit;
(ii) be adequately ventilated and where necessary have local exhaust ventilation;
(iii) have a good standard of housekeeping;
(iv) be provided with adequate fire-fighting equipment;
(v) only contain flammable material necessary for the day-to-day operation of the
workshop;
(vi) have clearly identified pedestrian routes and, where possible, reversing of mobile
plant should be avoided;
(vii) have pits that are covered when not in use or have guard rails in place;
(viii) have an inspection scheme for all tools and equipment so that they are safe to use;
(ix) have access to workstations restricted to maintenance personnel
(x) have adequate sanitary and hygienic washing facilities;
(xi) have procedures for waste management of used oils, tyres, batteries, brake and
clutch linings etc.
To ensure the safety of all personnel in the workshop, the following rules should be adhered
to: -

☐ Do not use a machine if you are NOT trained – always get training before operating any
machinery. If you are unfamiliar with a particular tool or instrument, do not use it until you
are properly trained on its usage.

☐ Do not work alone – always use the “buddy system”. At least two adults must be in the
shop when power tools are being used. You must get permission from the Shop Supervisor
for off-hours work.

☐ You are not allowed to use a machine when impaired - be sober and smart. Being under the
influence of alcohol or drugs while using shop machinery is strictly forbidden. Be aware of
other situations which may impair your ability to work safely, including illness, tiredness,
stress, hurrying, or the use of medication that could make you drowsy.

☐ Never start work if you cannot do the job safely - just don’t do it. There are limits to what
can be built in a given shop and in a given time. If it cannot be done safely don’t start it.
☐ You are not allowed to wear open toe or open heel shoes - use closed-toe shoes. Sandals,
flip-flops or other open-toe and open-heel shoes are strictly prohibited at all times. Tools,
chips and fixtures are sharp, and often hot. Shoes will help protect your feet from injury.
Flame retardant shoes are required when welding.

☐ You are not allowed to work without proper eye protection - always wear appropriate
safety glasses, goggles, or face shields when working or cleaning tools. The minimum
standard for protective eyewear is safety glasses with side-shields; machine users must
observe this standard at all times. Eyewear which offers additional protection against
splashing or other hazards may be indicated based on a risk assessment of the process or
procedure.

☐ You are not allowed to work with loose hair, jewellery, clothing, etc. – always remove or
secure anything that might get caught in moving machinery. All shop users must secure or
remove personal items that may become entangled in a machine. Long hair, necklaces, ties,
dangling ID badges, jewellery, loose clothes, watches or rings, may get caught in tools and
can drag you along resulting in serious injury or death. Check with the supervisor for
appropriate attire.

☐ Never bring hands close to sharp objects – always keep your hands at a safe distance from
sharp tools. Make sure that nothing that you do will cause you to be cut by working too close
to a sharp tool or moving machine part. Maintain a safe distance.

☐ Never create a dusty and smoky environment - dust, chemicals and smoke can be
dangerous to your health, so work in well-ventilated areas, minimize contamination and use
appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Only use dust or fume-generating machines
in their intended areas. Ensure the shop is well ventilated and appropriate PPE is used when
working with such machines.

☐ Never be shy to seek help –always ask if you’re unsure about the safe operation of a tool
or any aspect of a job – have shop staff check the tool or work with which you are unfamiliar.

☐ Never leave your work area disorganized – always clean up after yourself. Before you
leave your work site all tools must be cleaned and returned to their storage location, machines
must be cleaned and the floor swept, as necessary.

☐ Never remove safety guards – they are present for a reason. Safety guards must never be
disabled or removed under any circumstances. You must ensure that safety guards are in place
and in proper working condition on moving parts before you start working. Follow all
appropriate shut-down procedures before working on a machine if the repair requires removal
or alteration of guarding.

☐ Never use gloves while using rotating equipment – remove them before starting work.
Gloves can become entangled in rotating machine parts resulting in serious injuries.

☐ Never leave broken or damaged tools or abnormal equipment unreported – always inform
shop staff to remove broken items from service for repair. Broken parts or equipment can
result in serious injuries and delays. Make sure you tag broken or damaged equipment and
inform the shop supervisor to arrange repair before next use.
 ☐ Never make any adjustments to a machine when it is in operation -always talk to shop
staff for permission when adjustment is needed. Make sure you are competent and have
permission from shop staff to affect repairs. Ensure power is off, equipment is properly
locked out and safety devices are in place.

☐ Choose a workspace that is well lit. Setup extra lights when necessary. Contact the shop
staff to request additional permanent light fixtures where needed.

Personal Protective Equipment

Safety in the workshop begins with proper training and use of equipment. After training, the
process for ensuring safety starts with engineering controls. Safety features built into the shop
are the first step that should be taken to protect individuals. This includes ventilation, enclosure
and/or isolation and process control (e.g. wet cutting instead of dry cutting, steam cleaning
instead of solvent cleaning, electric motors instead of fuelled motors to decrease exhausts). The
second step is to apply administrative controls. These may include performing high risk
operations at times when few occupants are present or rotating individuals to reduce worker
exposure to hazards. The third step is to require and use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
if engineering and administrative controls cannot adequately reduce or eliminate the hazard.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is designed to prevent injury and protect health.
Examples of personal protective equipment (PPE) include safety glasses or goggles, face
shields, safety shields, gloves, respirators, and hearing protection. It is the responsibility of the
user and his or her supervisor to ensure that the necessary safety equipment is used, in good
condition, and is appropriate for the work being performed, and that training is provided on
how to properly wear, inspect and remove the PPE.

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
When working in a hazardous environment, protective clothing is required.
Protective clothing is chosen, with the aid of the shop staff, on the basis of the
proposed hazard.
-Loose clothing, such as neckties, sweaters, flowing sleeves, lanyards, necklaces
and other loose/dangling jewellery shall not be worn in the shop.
-Rings, bracelets, wristwatches and related items should be removed prior to
machine use.
-Do not use heavy work gloves in close proximity to moving machinery. Such
gloves can become caught in a machine, resulting in injury. “Surgical” type
gloves (those that have low tear strength) are permissible.
-Shorts and pants with cuffs should be avoided during shop use.
-Long hair must be tied back.
-Closed-toed shoes will be worn in the machine shop at all times.
-Reusable protective clothing, such as work gloves, face shields, and respirators,
must be visually inspected prior to every use to ensure that they are in good
condition.
EYE PROTECTION
Safety glasses or goggles must always be worn in the shop. Ordinary prescription
glasses are not designed to provide adequate protection against occupational
hazards.
Prescription safety glasses are recommended for employees who must routinely
wear safety glasses in lieu of fitting safety glasses over their personal glasses.
However, safety goggles designed to fit over eyeglasses must always be available
for use.
Additional eye or face protection may be required when there is a potential for
chemical splashes or fumes, ultraviolet light radiation, or wood, metal, or plastic
shavings or particulates to come in contact with the eyes or face. Examples of
eye/face protection include safety glasses, goggles, and face shields.
PROTECTIVE GLOVES
When working with electrical, temperature, or mechanical/physical hazards,
appropriate work gloves (e.g., cryogenic gloves, electrical safety gloves) are
required. When working with hazardous chemicals, such as solvents and
corrosive materials, appropriate chemical-resistant gloves are required.
RESPIRATORS
The use, selection, medical evaluation, training, and fit testing for any required
respirators, if applicable, is the responsibility of Environmental Health Services
(EHS). Dust masks may be worn for personal comfort, but are not designed for
or approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) for protection against hazardous chemicals or biological agents.

OTHER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

Noise levels must be evaluated by EHS to determine appropriate PPE. Prior to
wearing hearing protection, or if new equipment is installed that may present a
noise issue, contact the Shop supervisor. Appropriate PPE for welding must be
available for the type of welding being performed. Note: PPE should not be worn
in common areas such as bathrooms, outside, conference rooms, break rooms,
elevators, etc.
CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS AT THE WORK PLACE