2007Woodside/Carlmont

High School RoboticsSafety Procedures,

Shop and Tool SafetyBy

Bob Steinfeld

My Background

• Taught Industrial Arts at Sequoia High School for 20 years. Electronics, and Metals.

• Participated as a parent mentor for FIRST Robotics in 2003 and 2004 at Woodside.

• Participated as a parent mentor for FIRST Robotics at Los Gatos High School for 3 years.

• Attended the FIRST Nationals in 2005 and 2007.• 2005 - 2007 Coach and mentor for a FIRST Lego

League team in Los Gatos - The WildCats.

Part 1Being Physically and Mentally Ready To Work In The Shop

Safety procedures actually start before you come to work in the shop.

• How do you feel? Are you tired?When you are tired, have pain or are stressed out it is difficult to

concentrate and accidents can occur.• Are you taking medications?• Do you have the correct clothes?• Do you have the correct safety equipment?

• When was the last time you had a Tetanus shot?

Medications, Drugs, & Alcohol

• Some over the counter medication can make you tired or drowsy?

– Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Sudafed…

• Prescription medications? What are the side effects.

• Cough medicines. Cough medicines may contain alcohol.

Medications, alcohol, and drugs can impair your judgment, make you sleepy and can cause injuries.

If you have taken medication that can cause problems choose not to work with tools.

Injuries to you or others can occur by your poor judgment in taking drugs or medications.

Focusing On Your Work and Knowing about the Tools

• Fooling around, joking, running, pushing, or wandering away from the group without permission are all safety violations.

• Do not use any tool until you have been checked out on the operation of the tool.

• Tools must be used for the purposes in which they are intended. Uses other than the intended purpose are a safety violation. – Can you give some examples?

• A clean workspace leads to a safe workspace.

• Provide people space to do their work.

• Your careless work can lead to injuring yourself or other people.

Clothing

• Frayed clothes can catch fire or get caught in rotating machinery. No frayed clothes.

• Loose fitting clothes can get caught in rotating machinery, No loose fitting clothes.

• Avoid have anything but your shirt around your neck? No neckties, neck chains and necklaces.

• Working with machine tools, hand tools, and metal greater than 1 pound require that your feet are protected. No open shoes and you must wear sox.

Safety Equipment

• Safety glasses or a face shield are required while working on the robot or while making parts. You must be able to see out of the safety glasses? Wear eye protection.

• For sanding, grinding and noisy cutting processes? Use ear protection for noisy processes.

• If there are chemicals, paint, or dust; protect your lungs with the proper mask. Wear a mask for painting and dusty processes.

• When working around arc welding protect your skin and eyes from the ultraviolet light produced by the welding arc? Wear a long sleeve shirt, and the correct shade of eye protection if you look at the arc.

Part 2Shop Work - Safety

Cutting different materials

Wood, aluminum, steel, copper, plastic, fiberglass, and glass epoxy (printed circuit board) materials.

Using hand toolsScrewdrivers, hammers, punches, wrenches, chisels.

Using hand held power toolsSkill saw, reciprocating saw, electric drill, electric screwdriver, hand grinder, or hand sander.

Using stationary power toolsBand saw, Sander, Grinder, drill press, milling machine, lathe

The Working EnvironmentLight and Space

• Safe working areas have good lighting and adequate space to work.

How Materials Cut

• Soft materials such as wood, plastic, and aluminum cut fast. The cutting tools also turn faster for these softer materials. Fast cutting materials are more dangerous because cutting happens quickly.

• Hard materials like steel, and stainless steel cut slow. The cutting tools travel slower but generate heat faster. Hard materials get hot and the chips produced are hot.

• The toolbit speeds for aluminum and steel are very different.

– Aluminum fast, steel slow, but this also depends on the size of the cutting tool and the size of material being cut.

• Typically, you can’t cut a material that is harder than the cutting tool.

Cutting Tools

• Cutting tools are very hard but also are very brittle.– Small pieces of the toolbit can break off if not

used properly.– Cutting tools must be kept sharp. Dull tools

create extra heat and can cause the tool to break.

Hand Tool Safety Rules

• Tools must be used for their intended purpose. • Tools should be inspected before use.

– Screwdrivers - are not pry bars, or chisels.– Hammers- the faces are hardened and can break off if hammering

on a hard surface. – Wire cutters- are designed to cut certain size wires made of copper

wire, don’t overload the tool by trying to cut steel.– Pliers - don’t pinch your fingers and don’t overload the tool.– Files - are very brittle and are not pry bars. Files should be used

with a handle because the tang is sharp.– Wrenches- should not be used with extension bars to increase

leverage. This can cause the wrench or socket to break.

Hand Held Power Tool Safety Rules

• Electric Drills– The tool should be inspected before use. Remove the chuck key

before starting the drill.– Inspect the drill bit to make sure it is sharp. If you don’t know ask.– Drill bit size affects speed it should turn. Also make sure the drill

bit will turn in the correct direction.– Safety glasses must be over your eyes.– Keep your fingers and clothes at least 3 inches away from the drill

bit when it’s turning.– Use the correct speed, and pressure for the material you are

drilling. If you don’t know ask for help.– Clamp the workpiece so it doesn’t move during drilling.– Stay centered over the hole being drilled.– If the drill has a cord keep the cord away from the rotating drill bit.

Hand Held Power Tool Safety Rules

• Hand held Jig (Scroll saw) saw and circular saw (Skillsaw)– Inspect the tool prior to use.– Use a sharp blade. If you don’t know how to tell, ask.– Keep the electric cord away from the work and know what is

below your cut.– Keeping your fingers at least 6 inches away from the blade at all

times when the saw is connected to AC power.– Safety glasses must be over your eyes.– Use the correct speed, and pressure. If you don’t know ask.– The workpiece must be held down, preferably clamped.

Hand Held Power Tool Safety Rules

• Hand; Grinders, Belt Sanders and Disk Sanders– Inspect the tool before use.– Use Safety glasses that include side protection.– Ear and dust protection recommended.– Always grind so the sparks or metal particles travel

away from you. – As you grind or sand, the workpiece can become hot

and this can burn you. Keep cooling water close by.– Always clamp or hold the workpiece securely.

Stationary Power Tool Safety Rules

(These are tools that are bolted to the floor)• Band Saw

• Drill press

• Milling machine

• Metal Lathe

• Metal Cut off saw

Stationary Power Tool Safety Rules

• Band Saw and Cutoff saw (steel)– Inspect the machine before use.– You should not use any machine unless you have had instruction

on how to use it and understand the safe rules for that machine.– Inspect the teeth on the blade before starting the saw to ensure the

blade has teeth, the correct number for your work, and is sharp. If you don’t know ask.

– Keeping your fingers at least 6 inches away from the blade at all times when the saw is plugged into AC power.

– Use a push stick or push tool to guide the part being cut. – Safety glasses must be over your eyes.– Use the correct speed, and pressure for the material you are

cutting. Don’t force the blade to cut.– The workpiece must be flat against the table.

Stationary Power Tool Safety Rules

• Belt, Disk Sander, or Bench Grinder– Inspect the machine before use. – You should not use any machine unless you have had instruction

on how to use it and understand the safe rules for that machine.– Safety glasses that include side protection.– Ear protection recommended.– Always grind so the sparks or metal particles travel away from

you. – As you grind or sand your workpiece can become hot enough to

burn you. Keep cooling water close by.– Always hold the workpiece securely to prevent it from becoming

airborne

Stationary Power Tool Safety Rules

• Drill Press– Inspect the machine before use to make sure the belt guards are in place.– You should not use any machine unless you have had instruction on how

to use it and understand the safe rules for that machine.– Inspect the drill bit to make sure it is sharp.– Drill bit size is used to determine the speed. If you don’t know what speed

ask for help.– Safety glasses must be over your eyes.– Keep your fingers and clothes away from the drill bit. At least

3 inches or more away from the bit.– Use the correct speed, and pressure for the material you are drilling.– The workpiece must be held securely preferably with a clamping device.– Cutting chips can be hot and sharp. Avoid contact with these chips.

Stationary Power Tool Safety Rules

• Milling Machine– You should not use any machine unless you have had instruction

on how to use it and understand the safe rules for that machine.– Your workpiece must be clamped securely to the milling table.– Inspect the milling cutter to ensure it is sharp. Don’t use a dull

tool.– You must select the correct speed for the cutting tool and ensure

the cutting tool is turning in the correct direction. If you don’t know ask for help.

– You must control the cutting speed and depth for the material you are working with.

– Cutting chips can be hot and sharp. Do not clear away with your hands.

Stationary Power Tool Safety Rules

• Metal Lathe– You should not use any machine unless you have had instruction

on how to use it and understand the safe rules for that machine.– Your workpiece must be clamped in the chuck before turning on

the lathe. Remove the chuck key before activating the machine. Inspect the lathe toolbit to ensure it is sharp.

– You must select the correct speed for workpiece. You must also ensure the workpiece is turning in the correct direction. If you don’t know ask for help.

– You must control the depth of cut for the material you are working with.

– Cutting chips can be hot and sharp. Do not clear away with your hands.

Accidents Part 3

• Report all accidents no matter how slight to the teacher or advisor immediately.

Safety Rules- Review

• I must feel good and not be under the influence of any drugs or alcohol when I work on the robot.

• I will wear the protective equipment; safety glasses, ear protection, a dust mask, and protect my skin from the ultraviolet light form welding when working on the robot.

• I will focus on my work and not engage in fooling around while in the shop and working on the robot.

• I will not use any tool, equipment, or machine until I have been checked out on the safe use by and advisor or teacher.

– Signature:_____________________________________– Print Name:___________________________________

Robotics Events - Part 4

• Safety Glasses must be worn at the Robot events. Cal Games, SJ Regional, Nationals.

• Good behavior, listening to directions, and following the rules is a must at the events.

• You must be considerate of the other teams at the robot events.

• You must always exercise “Gracious Professionalism”

Questions