Safety Rules General Safety Rules Be careful. Pay attention to what you are doing. Never operate a power tool while talking. Never distract a person who is working with a power tool. Being careful is your best defense against injury. Being careful means being careful ALL the time. Two seconds of inattention is all it takes to ruin a perfect safety record, not to mention your health. Avoid danger by using common sense. Some people create a greater risk of danger by trying to work faster or more conveniently. Cutting corners on safety is a bad idea. Become aware of MSDS and know your rights concerning your health and safety. Check out the links regarding this on Mr. Akers website. A binder with MSDS will be maintained in the front of the room. If you don t how to do something ask for help. No horseplay at any time in any area. Use the right tool for the job. Carry pointed or sharp tools with the point held toward the floor. Scene Shop Safety Power Tools Each power tool has its own set of safety rules. These tools are safe when properly used, but they can cause serious accidents when misused. You must be trained on each power tool before you use it. PPE is required when using these tools: eye or face protection and ear protection is necessary. Make sure the work surface and floors are clear, and get EVERYTHING ready before you start working. Keep the power cord out of the way when the tool is operating. Always disconnect the tool before making any adjustments to the tool settings. Fasten/secure your work so that you can use two hands. Wait until the tool comes to a complete stop before you set it down. Use the tool for the job it was designed to do. Use an even steady pressure; don t force it or overload the tool. Hands Hands are very susceptible to injury. Watch the cutting edge of any tool, especially the power tools, and be aware of where your hands are in relation to it. Pay attention and do not get distracted. Keep both hands behind the direction in which the sharp edge is going and never cut towards your body. Wear latex gloves to protect you from solvents, adhesives and paint. 1
Proper Attire No loose or baggy clothing. You will lose points if you don t dress appropriately. Wear shoes with good, non slippery soles that cover the whole foot; no sandals, flip flops or dress shoes. Tennis shoes are required when working on lighting. No shorts or skirts; jeans are best. No jewelry that hangs or dangles. The paint will NOT wash out of your clothes. Keep your work clothes stored at school. There are lockers and cubbies available for storing your clothes and tools. Long hair must be put up or tied back. A cap is a good way to keep your hair up. House Keeping (A Clean Shop Is a Safe Shop) Clean up your work area at the end of class or your work shift after school. Do not leave tools and supplies out. Do not let your work area become too cluttered; this can lead to trip hazards. Clean as you go. Remove all hardware: screws, nails, fasteners, hinges, etc. from lumber when putting the lumber into storage areas. Do not leave long sticks or lumber in trash barrels. Do not block fire extinguishers or doors. Keep pathways to fire exits and for crossing the shop clear. It can be dangerous having to carry large items while walking over lumber and trash. Empty the trash cans every day. Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) You should always work safely by using appropriate safety equipment. If you have any doubts, put on the PPE; it is better to be safe than sorry. Dust Masks: May provide comfort from dust. They will not protect from fumes and vapors and other assorted toxins. Ears: Earmuffs and earplugs for high noise jobs. Eyes: Eye protection is required at all times in the shop. You may not be using a power tool or a chemical but someone nearby might be. Handling scenery, Lifting and Carrying heavy objects Lift correctly: bend your knees and lift with your legs. Communicate with others. If you need help, ask before you start. Look where you are going, especially through doors and around corners. If you can t see where you are going, get help. Be aware of what's behind you. When carrying tall objects like a flat or ladder, lift with one hand high and one hand low and get someone to help you. Be aware of your surroundings and communicate with co-workers to prevent injury and accidents. If you are losing your grip or if something is too heavy, tell 2
the person helping you; then you can stop and get a better grip. If something is too heavy to lift, always ask for help. Health Hazards Ventilation is poor in the shop. Wear a dust mask. Spray Paint solvents, Spray adhesives, and cutting polystyrene produce toxic fumes. Wear a respirator and gloves. When you engage in such procedures go over close to the outside door and use a drop cloth or paper to prevent over spray. The doors must be opened and a box fan should be used near the work to pull the fumes from the work area. Ladders Working on ladders always presents a potential for a fall. Always have someone there to foot and hold the bottom for you. Do not stand on the top or go beyond the steps indicated by the safety labels. Before you get on a ladder, make sure that all the legs are firmly on the floor. Do not to leave tools, hardware, etc. on the top of a ladder. When you are on a ladder you must take extra precautions. Be aware of overhead items such as scenery, lighting instruments, curtains, and electrical cables. Do not have loose items in pockets and tools should be attached to you. Make sure you have a spotter nearby to keep people below aware of you and your work. Fire Safety Most of the materials, paper, sawdust, etc., in the shop are combustible. Clean up as you work; so these materials do not create a fire hazard. Paint, solvents etc., are highly flammable and should be kept in a special cabinet. Know where the Fire Exits are in the shop and stage. Know where fire extinguishers are. In case of an accident Know where the first aid kit is. Report all accidents to the faculty/staff person in charge. There is a phone in the drama room and the performing arts office. Call the school nurse at 486-6408 or the receptionist at 486-6400 or 911. 3
Stage/Theatre Space Safety Working with the counter weight system and rigging When you are the person raising and lowering the battens it is your responsibility to make sure that people are out of the way. Make sure that everyone on stage knows that you are about to move something in or out (down or up) on stage. This should be a loud verbal warning so all can hear you. Typically, you identify which line set or batten you are raising or lowering and yell for that area of the stage to CLEAR. Yes, you must watch the rope you are pulling and the batten that it is moving and the area of the stage. NEVER operate the counter weight system by yourself; get a helper. Working Overhead Whenever you work on the grid loading deck or an overhead platform or on a ladder, all tools must be secured so they can't fall. You are responsible to make sure the people working beneath you know you are above them, and whenever possible they should be cleared from the area. If you do drop something, you must yell HEADS! If you hear "heads" yelled, get out of the way. Do not look up to see what is falling!! Electrical safety Most electrical accidents result from one of the following three factors Unsafe equipment or installation Unsafe environment Unsafe work practices Work practices to protect you against electrical hazards Electrical accidents are largely preventable through safe work practices. Examples of these practices include the following: Before connecting electrical equipment to a power source, it's a good idea to check the insulation for any exposed wires for possible defects. Insulation covering flexible cords such as extension cords is particularly vulnerable to damage. Unplug electric equipment before inspection or repair. Keep electric tools properly maintained. Appropriate and properly maintained tools help protect workers against electric hazards. Never work on energized lines. Use appropriate protective equipment All receptacles and connectors should be used only in accordance with the manufacturers' specifications, and the specific listing for the item. Physical abuse 4
and stress on these components should be minimized by the selection of a safe location and by the use of stress/strain relief devices. Immediate corrective action should be taken when damaged components or safety hazards are encountered. Periodic inspections should be conducted for all electrical system equipment and components in order to identify all electrical hazards present. Records should be kept of any electrical hazards identified, and appropriate corrective action should be taken immediately. These periodic inspections should be supplemented with daily inspections by the personnel using this equipment. Lighting Safety Always unplug lighting instruments when changing lamps. Make sure every instrument has a cable and attach the safety cable to the batten. Wear tennis shoes when working on lighting. Beware that lighting instruments get VERY HOT! Handle carefully. Never handle the lamps with your hands. Keep your wrench attached to your body with a lanyard. 5