Health and Safety in a School Workshop: Understanding Risk Assessment and Safe Working Practices

Many high school Design and Technology students complete practical projects in a school workshop. In this environment, students need to be aware of health and safety protocols and risk assessment procedures used within a school workshop. This includes understanding how to correctly use of hand and machine tools, identify hazards, and take relevant precautions as necessary. This article outlines some of these guidelines to ensure that students keep themselves and others safe when designing and making practical products.

Note: An understanding of health and safety practices should be clearly demonstrated in the realisation section of your coursework portfolio when constructing your final model or finished product.

Why is health and safety a crucial consideration within a school workshop?

• Safety of students and staff: The protection of students’ physical wellbeing is the primary responsibility of educators in workshop environments. This responsibility is paramount because young people may lack experience with tools and machinery and may not naturally recognize potential hazards. For example, in a graphic products workshop, students must be trained to use craft knives, steel safety rulers, and cutting mats and supervised to prevent accidents.
• Legal requirements: Formal risk assessments are legally required and provide a systematic approach to identifying and mitigating potential hazards in schools. Schools have strict health and safety policies which not only affect the wellbeing of students, but help to ensure schools meet safety regulations. When students are using equipment like laser cutters, risk assessments outline specific procedures such as proper ventilation requirements.
• Help students develop lifelong safe working habits: Students need to develop safe working habits and understand the consequences of unsafe behavior. These habits can then benefit students their whole lives – for example when doing DIY later in life. For example, when teaching students to use paper guillotines, clear demonstrations of safe finger positions and the importance of single-person operation must be emphasized.
• Reducing damage to machinery: Regular maintenance and inspection of tools and machinery is crucial for preventing accidents and ensuring reliable operation. This ongoing process helps identify potential hazards before they cause injuries. The regular checking of guard mechanisms on machines like laser cutters, and ensuring emergency stop buttons are functioning correctly, helps prevent serious accidents as well as helps ensure the machines are not damaged through incorrect usage.
• Understanding of emergency procedures: Clear emergency protocols and readily available first aid equipment are vital components of workshop safety. These procedures must be well-understood because quick response times can significantly impact the outcome of any incident. Having clearly marked fire exits, emergency stop buttons, and first aid stations, along with regular drills, helps ensure appropriate responses to emergencies. Undertaking regular risk assessments helps students and staff prepare for emergencies and know how to respond.

General safety practices for woodworking machinery or chemical processes

• Ensuring familiarity with operational instructions and receive training from a teacher before using a tool, machine, or new process involving corrosive or toxic materials;
• Always ask permission before using machinery and ensure a teacher is nearby to supervise or assist if needed;
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the relevant machine or process, such as goggles or visor to prevent from flying woodchips, face mask to protect from toxic fumes, gloves to protect hands from hazardous chemicals or excess heat, and an apron or lab coat to protect clothing and skin from chemical spills;
• When welding, wear welding goggles and gauntlets (heavy-duty protective gloves that extend up the forearm, made of leather or other heat-resistant material that protect from burns, sparks, and hot metal debris), spats (protective flame-resistant coverings worn over shoes and lower legs to prevent hot metal sparks, slag, or debris from falling into your boots or burning your legs, serving a similar protective function as the gauntlets do for your hands and arms);
• Tie long hair back, roll up sleeves, and remove ties;
• Keep working areas clean to avoid tripping and slip hazards due to sawdust and off-cuts; to minimise fire risk; to ensure safe access and storage of tools; and to ensure safety exits are clear and unobstructed;
• Never leave machines or hazardous chemical processes unattended;
• Use tools in appropriate ways, with appropriate safety guards around blades and other hazardous components;
• Understand that electrical tools and chemical processes carry risk and be alert for potential hazards at all times.

Take care when cutting with craft knife and safety ruler

• Cut away from the body;
• Retract blade when not in use;
• Use a metal safety ruler with a raised edge or lip along one side (acts as a finger guard protecting hand; sometimes has a non-slip base to prevent it sliding on work surface);
• Use a cutting mat (protects work surface; withstands repeated cuts without being damaged; reduces dulling of blade; often has grids lines for measurement and alignment);
• Wear closed-toe shoes.

Why manufacturers undertake risk assessments

• Better emergency response: Conducting risk assessments helps to facilitate appropriate response to hazards, encouraging staff to think through action plans in case something goes wrong. It can help ensure staff are well prepared and trained for various eventualities. A risk assessment can also help health and safety officers to target their efforts and produce training materials for workers.
• Safety of workers: Risk assessments are crucial for ensuring the safety of employees in manufacturing environments. By identifying potential hazards and implementing preventive measures, companies can significantly reduce workplace accidents and injuries. For example, a packaging manufacturer might conduct a risk assessment that reveals the need for improved ventilation systems to protect workers from paper dust and adhesive fumes when producing cardboard displays.
• Legal compliance: Undertaking risk assessments is often a legal requirement in many industries. Manufacturers must comply with health and safety regulations to avoid fines, legal action, and potential shutdowns. For example, in New Zealand, food production has stringent safety requirements, and any premises operating with unsanitary conditions has their business closed until the situation is remedied. Conducting risk assessments in advance helps to prevent this.
• Cost reduction: While conducting risk assessments requires an initial investment, they can lead to significant savings in the long run. By preventing accidents, equipment failures, and product defects, companies can avoid expensive downtime, repairs, and liability claims. A corrugated cardboard packaging supplier might use risk assessments to identify and mitigate potential die-cutting machine failures, thus avoiding costly production interruptions.
• Equipment protection: Regular risk assessments help prevent damage to expensive manufacturing equipment and minimize downtime. When using complex machinery like digital printing presses or automated folding equipment, understanding potential risks helps prevent catastrophic equipment failure and maintains production efficiency. This helps prevent expensive mistakes or production delays.
• Promotes a positive reputation: Risk assessments help protect brand reputation by preventing quality issues or safety concerns – developing a reputation for keeping workers safe and producing safe products. A well-managed manufacturing process with proper risk mitigation measures in place helps build trust with customers and the general public.
• Improvement in working conditions: Regular risk assessments can highlight areas for process improvement in existing systems. By evaluating manufacturing processes, companies can identify inefficiencies and opportunities for improved safety. A custom packaging company might use risk assessments to identify bottlenecks and challenges in their prototyping process, leading to the adoption of 3D printing technology for faster and safer sample production.
• Employee morale and productivity: When workers see that their employer is actively working to identify and mitigate risks, it can boost morale and productivity. Employees feel valued and protected, leading to increased job satisfaction and engagement.
• Helps provide data for staff training: Through risk assessment, manufacturers can identify where additional staff training is needed. This ensures operators are properly qualified to use equipment like digital cutting tables or automated assembly systems, reducing the risk of accidents or quality issues.

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Action to be taken when hazards are identified or when accidents occur in a school workshop or practical area.]

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[Summarise the importance of maintaining a safe working environment during designing and making activities.]