SAFETY BINDER

SAFETY HANDBOOK

TEAM 9717

GOALS:

Explain What Safety Is
Promote Safety
Make Safety Fun!

MISSION STATEMENT:

We pledge to try to keep everyone safe at all times. Safety goes further than just the pit area, we will carry it into our own shop area and our everyday lives. Safety can be as simple as announcing to everyone when you come through transporting large objects, and as serious as wearing safety glasses and gloves when grinding metal. Safety doesn’t have to be boring. If safety is fun, more people will use it not as a practice, but as a good habit. In order for others to be safe, you must set constant examples of safe behavior and educate others on how to be safe. Don’t just tell someone that they are doing something unsafe, explain to them the dangers of their actions and how they can use safety in that situation.

OUR DEFINITION OF SAFETY:

Poultronix Team 9717 defines safety as being cautious and alert when participating in or being around any potentially dangerous situations or actions. When deciding on whether you are doing something safe, ask yourself these questions: Am I putting the well-being of my peers in danger? Swinging a board around in the shop is not only dumb, but also dangerous. Am I using the right tool for the job? Using a bandsaw to cut a piece of paper would be an incorrect use of the tool. Am I using this tool/operating this machinery correctly? Always make sure that all guards are in place when using saws, grinders, or sanders. Also, always try to clean up after yourself to avoid potential injury to others.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF SAFETY?

The answer is simple, to make FIRST more fun and less stressful. If you don’t have to worry as much about safety because everyone acts safely, building and competing with your robot and team will be more fun and easier for everyone. The fewer things that you have to worry about, the more you can focus on having fun! Besides, it could be hard to explain to your parents why your new nickname is lefty.

TOOL/UNIVERSAL SAFETY:

Always wear safety glasses in the shop area and when using tools outside the shop area
Students should never operate machinery or tools that plug into an outlet without the supervision of an adult mentor or before receiving proper training on the operation and cleaning of that tool or machinery
Utilize all guards and/or shields meant for machinery when it is in operation
Always clean up after you have accomplished your goal to prevent injury of others in the future
Be nice to each other. Don’t use tools when you are angry- you are liable to injure yourself or others around you
No horsing around near machinery or people using tools. You can hurt yourself or cause the person using the tool to get hurt by bumping into them or distracting them
Secure objects before cutting or drilling them
Use a spotter when climbing- the ladder can’t watch you
Wear gloves when grinding metal or plastic
No food or drink in the work area. They can damage tools and make them unsafe to use or make surfaces sticky or slippery

PIT GUIDELINES

Always wear safety glasses when in the pits, on the practice field, or on the competition field
Don’t operate grinders or create sparks in the pits
Don’t run in the pits or the stands
Warn others in the pit when transporting the robot on the cart
Warn others before using a tool or enabling the robot
PAY ATTENTION! Most accidents occur because one or more persons are not paying
attention.
Watch out for people using tools and transporting robots. Guidelines only
make the pit safer, they don’t make it completely safe.
Turn off the robot before working on it and disconnect the battery before working on its electrical components
Wear gloves when lifting or carrying the robot
Keep the pit area clean and neat with all tools put away and the floor swept
Know where the fire exits, first aid kits, and MSDS sheets are
No “daisy chaining” to get power in the pits. (Daisy chaining means to power a power strip via an extension cord or to hook multiple power strips together to obtain more outlets)
Secure all valuables in the pit area to prevent damage or loss
Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times

Shop Attire

Eye and Head protection:

Wear provided glasses at all times in the shop.
Personal safety glasses are allowed as long as they are up to grade.
Prescription glasses are only allowed when they are safety tested and with side shields on.

Hand protection:

Gloves are to be worn while grinding and deburring.

Hearing protection:

Industrial ear muffs and ear plugs are available to wear in shop
One earbud allowed in at a time while in the shop and the cords, if any, must be concealed to reduce entanglement.

Foot protection:

Closed toe shoes must be worn at all times.

Clothes and Jewelry:

No loose hanging jewelry in the shop. Earrings and watches are allowed
Loose hanging clothes are not allowed either.

THE FOWL-PROOF SAFETY GUIDELINES

Cluck Cluck Gear Up: Always don your feathers– safety glasses and gloves – before entering the coop... I mean pit.
No Fowl Play: Keep the pit orderly; no chicken runs or egg-toss games allowed. This is a place for building, not pecking around.
Egg-cellent Cleanliness: Keep your nest clean. Sweep up ALL TRASH and dispose of waste properly – remember, a clean coop is a happy coop.
Hen-pecked Wiring: When working on electrical components, make sure to roost – isolate and secure – your circuits to avoid any shocking surprises.
Beware of the Rooster’s Crow: If the robot is in operation or testing, announce a loud “Cock-a-doodle-doo!” to alert your fellow team members to stand clear.
Pecking Order: Ensure all tools are returned to their rightful place. Every wrench, screwdriver, and plier has its perch.
Scratch Out the Hazards: Keep the walking areas free of clutter. We don’t want any trip-traps in our henhouse.
Feathered Friends: Work in pairs or teams. Two beaks are better than one when solving complex problems.
Wing It with Caution: If improvising a solution, discuss it with your team leader first. Don’t just wing it on your own.
Chicken Dance Warm-Up: Before lifting heavy objects, do a quick “chicken dance” to loosen up your muscles – but only figuratively to get those limbs moving.
Nest the Robot Gently: When setting your robot down, lower it softly like a hen onto her eggs. We want no cracks in our tech!
Egghead Protocols: Stay sharp by hydrating and eating – brain food is a must. Remember, chickens are smart; they know to eat and drink regularly.
Chick Magnet Warning: Keep metal filings and sharp objects away from magnets and electronic components, just like keeping the fox away from the hen house.