Intro To Fablab Safety & Tools

The objective of this lesson is to ensure that all students are given appropriate safety and health training related to their field of study.

In workshops or Fab Lab, hazard communications are visible to remind students of workplace hazards and the safety precautions to take at specific work areas, especially when working with a hazardous machineries.

Why is Safety important in the Fablab?

Safety is important to ensure that nobody in the Fablab gets into accidents that can result in injuries or even death

Emergency Procedures:

- For Ambulance call 995
- For SCDF call 995
- For Police call 999
- For all emergencies and incident reporting call SP Emergency hotline 6772-1234

Proper Attire

1. Long hair must be tied up
2. Keep adornment properly
3. No loose items allowed (Hanging necklace)
4. T-shirt, No loose attire, No long sleeve
5. Long pants must be worn
6. Hands must be free of adornment

Types Of Mechanical Hazards

1. Entanglement hazards

Entanglement arise when loose clothing, hair or loose item got caught with the moving parts of a machine.

2. Cutting hazards

Cutting hazards are present in machines used to cut wood, metal or other materials at the point of operation. Machines with moving cutting elements are dangerous. They can cause severe injury (eg. deep cuts, amputations) due to its own momentum when they come into contact with a worker’s body.

3. Impact hazards

Impact hazards relate to objects that strike the human body, but do not penetrate it. The severity of an impact hazard depends on the speed, force and inertia of the moving machine part during operation or upon ejection from the machine .

4. Shearing hazards

Parts of machines that move past each other or stationary objects can cause a shear point resulting in a crushing or cutting action.

5. Crushing hazards

It is caused when part of the body is caught between either two moving parts of machinery or a moving part and a stationary object.

6. Draw-in hazards

Parts of machines that move past each other or stationary objects can cause a shear point resulting in a crushing or cutting action.

7. Friction and abrasion hazards

Friction burns and abrasions occurs when encountering rough surfaces moving at high speed e.g. sanding machine, grinding wheel etc. can cause abrasion injuries.

Non-Mechanical Hazards

1. Fall from Heights Hazards

When required to work at heights, fall can lead to sprains or broken bones and in more serious cases, head injuries or even death

2. Noise Hazards

Noise is often generated during machine operations and work activities. Prolonged exposure to excessive noise can cause NID ( Noise-Induced Deafness ).

3. Electrical Hazards

Accidents involving contact with electricity can happen when an electrical machine failed, electric circuits are overloaded or shortcircuited, or when one comes into contact with a live wire.

4. Heat-related Hazards

Contact with hot surfaces of machines can cause severe skin burns.

5. Chemical Hazards

Prolonged exposure through inhalation of chemical mist or vapour, can cause poor respiratory health.

6. Fatigue

Fatigue is tiredness leading to reduced mental and physical performance that can endanger safety and health.

Types of Hand Tools

Screwdriver     Hammers     Punches
Handsaws       Chisels         Files
Hand snips     Axes             Knives
Box cutters     Wrenches     Crowbars/pry bars
Hooks             Pliers

Electrical Power Hand Tools

Soldering iron           Circular saw             Portable Grinder     Hand held Drill
Hand held Router     Reciprocating saw    Sander

Pneumatic impact tools or air-powered tools

Air-powered Wrench     Pneumatic Nail Gun     Pneumatic Hammer
Pneumatic grinder         Pneumatic Screw Driver

Common Causes of Hands & Arms Injuries

1. Abrasion
2. Temperature Extremes
3. Cuts & Punctures
4. Handling of Chemicals
5. Electrical Shock
6. Skin Infection
7. Disease Or Contamination

Five basic rules to prevent hand injuries

1. Keep all tools in good condition with regular
maintenance.
2. Use the right tool for the job.
3. Examine each tool for damage before use and do not use damaged tools.
4. Operate tools according to the manufacturers’ instructions.
5. Properly use of the appropriate PPE

Good Housekeeping Practices

1. Always return the tools back to their designated positions in the tool racks after use.
2. Always keep the workplace neat and orderly after use.
3. Always clear away the debris and chips off the machines or workbenches after use.
4. Always bring unused or leftover materials to the recycle area.
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