SAFETY AND FIRST AID

Workshop safety is the condition of being free from danger, injury or harm when working in the
workshop. There are safety rules and precautions one needs to follow. These rules and precautions
are aimed at preventing or reducing accidents in the workshop. Accidents can be prevented or
avoided if all of us take safety as our responsibility. Remember that a careless fraction of a second
in the workshop is enough to cause serious injury and sometimes death.

Use of protective clothing and equipment in the workshop

Protective clothing and equipment means the type of clothes and equipment used to protect the
body from injuries. In a workshop, we usually use and keep dangerous chemicals, tools, machines
and equipment. To protect ourselves from all these, we must always use protective clothing and
equipment.

Clothing/Equipment Part Purpose

protected
Goggles Eyes They prevent physical damage to
the eyes
They protect the eyes from
splashes of chemicals, dust and
gases
Eye shields They protect the eyes from
welding sparks and heat
Eye protectors should always be
worn when using moving
machines.
Safety boots Feet Boots protect feet from heavy
falling objects and tools
They protect the feet from
stepping on any sharp objects
They protect the feet from any
molten metal
Rubber gloves / leather gloves Hands Gloves protects hands against cuts
They protect the hands against
skin irritation
They protect the hands from
contact with toxic liquids
They protect hands from hot
objects
Always wear rubber gloves when
working with toxic liquids
because they can cause burns or
blisters
Some liquids can be absorbed
through the skin and cause serious
health problems
Respirator / Nose mask Nose They protect the mouth and nose
against toxic sawdust and other
particles which may cause
sneezing and coughing
They protect you against toxic
vapours from oil – based paints
and solvents which may cause
lung problems and other diseases
Always wear a nose mask or
respirator when working in dusty
areas or working with paints
Helmet Head Protects the head from falling
objects
Protects head against impact from
fixed objects
Always wear a helmet in
hazardous areas for example
construction sites
It can also be worn in areas where
there are objects hanging above
one’s head
Ear muff / Ear plugs Ear Protect ears from being damaged
when using noisy machines for
example a circular saw
Always wear ear muffs or ear
plugs when using noisy machines

Overall / Dust coat / Apron Body Protect body from injury

Protects one’s normal clothes
from getting dirty
Safety regulations

When you enter the Do not go in to the workshop without the teacher’s permission
workshop The workshop should be well lit
Turn on artificial lights if the natural light is not good enough
Wear clothing that keeps Wear shoes which cover your heels and toes , in order to
you safe avoid damaging your feet
Do not wear loose clothing which can get caught in
equipment
Roll up your sleeves to the elbow , tuck in your shirt and take
off your tie
Tie back long hair and remove any jewellery
Handle and store tools and Do not use blunt tools as they may spoil your work.
equipment safely Carry sharp tools with their sharp ends facing downwards
Pass tools to other students with the handle first
Never use a tool without a handle or with a loose head
Clamp down your work when sawing or drilling
Hold percussion tools at the end of the shaft to prevent hitting
your fingers
Use tools for their correct purpose e.g. do not use a chisel to
insert a screw etc.
When using driving tools like screw driver always ensure that
the blade exactly fits the length of the screw head to prevent
damage either to the screw or screw driver or workpiece
surface
Make sure tools are stored neatly and in their correct places
Use machines safely Never work alone when using machines
Make sure that a teacher is there to assist you and also to
observe what you are doing
All students must know the location of the emergency stop
buttons to stop electricity in there is accident caused by
electricity
Keep your teacher informed Inform the teacher immediately if someone is injured or
about what happens in the something breaks
workshop
Behave correctly and safely Move about the workshop with care. Do not run as you can
trip and fall or bump on to others
Avoid bumping in to people who are working
Anything that has spilled on the floor must be wiped up
immediately
Dispose of waste materials so that they do not lie around or
cause a fire hazard
If you are not sure or do not know how to use a tool or
machine , ask the teacher before you attempt to use it
Take note of warning signs and make sure they are visible at
all times
Keep gangways clear so that your teacher and other students
can move freely around the workshop
Leaving the workshop At least ten minutes before the end of the lesson, clean and
tidy the lab.
Tools should be put in their correct places
Safe storage of tools and equipment

When tools and equipment are properly stored, workshop hazards are reduced.
It also makes the workshop look neat and well organised
Good arrangement of tools and equipment saves time because one can easily check whether
all tools are there at the start and at the end of the lesson.
This also ensures that tools are available for others when they need them.

Never place tools in unsafe position

Place used tools in a safe position to avoid other people tripping over and injuring
themselves
If tools fall on the ground , they are likely to get damaged
Tools which are not used should always be placed in a bench well

Tools can either be racked on a designed display board mounted on the wall or on cabinet ‘s
shelves

If the shelves are used , it is very important to label them for easy identification

Cleanliness in the workshop

Cleanliness is one of the key areas of a healthy environment, hence the saying ‘ A clean
environment is a healthy mind’
When the workshop is left untidy, it can pose a serious health risk to both teachers and
students.
It is important to keep the workshop clean and tidy to avoid unnecessary hazards
The floor must be kept clean and any spilled liquids must be wiped up immediately to
prevent slipping.
Dust must be cleaned and disposed of and if not this could cause fire hazards.
To ensure that the workshop is clean and tidy:
 Clean the workshop after every practical lesson
 Put all tools and equipment in their proper storage places when not in use. It is
important to pack all the tools in their respective places after use.
  Waste materials must be removed and placed in rubbish bins
 Waste wood, plastics and metal pieces can be recycled rather than being thrown
away. This will be saving the environment from possible harmful effects.
 If oils , paints , and chemicals spill on any surface accidentally, clean them
immediately
 Use an old paintbrush to clean fine sawdust or fillings from your bench top or
cleaning blind corners on a drill press or lathe

Safe disposal of waste

After each practical lesson, there will be waste produced in the workshop.
Waste is a substance which is not useful coming from cutting materials and used products
It can range from scrap wooden pieces, metal, paper or used containers of consumables.
This waste should always be placed in in waste bins
If waste is not properly disposed ( thrown) of, it can cause serious danger to human life
There is also clinical waste such as plasters , gauzes and bandages from the first aid boxes,
which should be placed in an incinerator
In case of poisonous chemicals and substances, efforts must be made to dispose of them
safely otherwise they will damage the environment
Waste bins must be emptied after every practical lesson

Sockets and switches

SWITCH SOCKET PLUG

A switch is a part of an electronic or electric circuit that controls the flow of electric current
by turning it on or off.
In its simplest form, a switch consists of two metal contacts that are held together so that
current flows through them.
For example, in a torch, current flows from a battery to a bulb. In this case, as current flows
through the bulb and back to the battery, the bulb is illuminated
When the metal contacts are not held together, there is a gap in the circuit and current cannot
flow.
A socket is a piece of electrical equipment that is usually put on the wall and a plug is
connected to it to get power
Never touch electric switches or sockets with wet hands, as these may result in a short
circuit and cause an electric shock
You must know where the emergency stop buttons are positioned in the workshop in case of
emergency to turn off all electrical power to all machines.
SIGN ILLUSTRATION COLOUR MEANING USE
TYPE

Safety signs

A workshop can be a hazardous place. In order to make students aware of specific hazards, the
international organisation for standardisation (ISO) has developed a series of safety signs. The
safety signs and colours are meant to:
Draw one ‘s attention to objects and situations which could affect health and safety
Outline potential hazards that may not be obvious
Give information and directions
Remind workers where personal protective clothing must be put on
Indicate emergency equipment area and
Indicate where certain actions are prohibited

There are five types of safety signs used in the workshop namely:
Warning
Mandatory
Prohibition
Safe condition
Fire equipment
Prohibition Red with a They These sign
white indicate an are used in :
background immediate
hazardous Stop signs,
situation. for example,
Don’t do do not use
mobile

Emergency
stops e.g. do
not enter
Warning Yellow They They indicate
with a indicate a hazards for
black potentially example,
symbol and hazardous electrical,
text situation. explosive and
Risk of toxic signs
danger

Mandatory They are They They require

blue with indicate one to wear
white specific personal
symbols course of safety
and text action that equipment
must be done for example,
to avoid wear safety
accidents gloves

Safe They are They Examples

condition green with communicate include signs
white information for
symbols about safe emergency
and text conditions stop , safe
drinking
water, and
availability of
first aid
equipment
Fire They are They These signs
equipment red with indicate the indicate the
white location of exact position
symbol and fire of fire
text equipment extinguishers,
fire alarm,
and assembly
point when
there is fire in
the
workshop.

In signs, a pictorial message sometimes appears alone or in some cases, it is combined with some
text. This allows the safety message to be communicated to people who do not know how to read or
understand the local language. When you are aware of hazards in your environment, and the
necessary precautions to be taken, the possibility of an injury or other loss is reduced.

Hazards in the workshop

Hazard means anything that can cause harm or damage. One way of preventing accidents in the
workshop is to know how to identify hazards and assess the risks involved. A hazard can be
something easily seen, such as exposed electrical wires, fire, faulty machine or it can be something
less obvious such as slippery surface. Risk is the chance that someone will be harmed by the
hazard. The main types of hazards in the workshop include:

Hazard Image example Explanation

Workshop These involve how the workshop is laid out
hazards (arrangement of work benches, machines and
tools).
Ensure that you can easily and safely work
around your workbench with no sharp edges
or corners sticking out.
Adequate lighting in the workshop is
necessary for safe use of sharp hand tools or
operation of power tools.
Shadows and dim lighting increase the risk of
getting injured.
Ensure tools are stored correctly
Activity These are hazards caused by the type of work
hazard one does in the workshop.
Example could include using a drilling or
welding machine, using tools and equipment.
Like goggles as there is a risk of damaging
your eyes
One has to observe the necessary safety rules
to prevent injuries caused by activity hazards.
Wear correct safety equipment
Make adjustments to machines only when
power is off.
Use a clamp to hold your work- not your
hands
Be careful of moving parts
Chemical These are hazards caused by chemicals or
hazards substances used in the workshop.
These hazards include slipping and falling,
inhaling bad smell harmful to us, chemical
splashes irritating or burning our skin and
eyes or causing fire in the lab
The substances can cause harm to the health
and safety of any person or the environment.
do not splash chemicals around, clear them
avoid chemicals contacting the skin by
wearing rubber gloves i.e. when using paint
and thinners
wear protective clothing equipment like mask
to avoid dust from machines
Clean any chemical spillage immediately
avoid breathing or inhaling fumes from the
chemical
Work in well ventilated areas.
Wear goggles and mask when spray painting
Store paints , thinners and glues in a safe
place
Dispose of paint and thinners correctly, not
down the drain
Keep paint , thinners and glue away from
flames and hot materials
Put hot metals on a safe surface to avoid fires
Take care with certain chemicals and
materials which can ignite when mixed.
Wash your hands with soap and water
Electrical Electricity can kill and most deaths are
hazards caused by contact with overhead or
underground power cables.
Poor electrical installations and faulty
electrical appliances can lead to fires which
can also result in damage to property and
goods, death or injury to others.
The major hazards arising from the use of
faulty electrical equipment include electric
shock, burns, fire and explosions.
Therefore electrical repairs should be done
only by a qualified person.
Some electrical hazards can be spotted easily
while others can be overlooked.
To prevent electrical hazards happening,
ensure that all loose or trailing cabling is tied,
and that faulty electrical equipment is
repaired.
Ensure that all faulty machines are turned off
and telling the teacher

Areas with common hazards

Always observe safety precautions in the hazardous areas to avoid being injured. The areas where
hazards are common are as follows:
Areas where there are machines used with no safety guards. The cutting bit may fly off the
machine and cause injuries.
Areas where electric wires are exposed. They will cause an electric shock if one touches
them with bare hands.
Welding area: Welding sparks will damage the user ‘s eyes if not properly protected
Areas where the floor is slippery. They will cause serious falls
Areas where paints, chemicals, gas and oils are stored. These substances are highly
flammable and will cause fires.

SUMMARY

Safety is everyone ‘s responsibility

Accidents in the workshop can be prevented if everyone observes safety rules
Protective clothing and equipment should always be used when working in the workshop to
protect yourself and others
HIV/AIDS can be passed to another person by touching infected blood with unprotected
hands
There are many hazards in the workshop. If identified , report them to your teacher
The correct tools should always be used for the right job
A clean and tidy workshop provides a healthy learning and working environment
Safety signs are useful tools aimed at protecting the health and safety of students and
teachers in the workshop.