General Shop Safety

General Shop Safety

By Chase Crum

What is Shop Safety?

​Purpose of shop Safety?

• The purpose of shop safety is to protect yourself along with everyone else working in the shop.

• This means learning the shop safety rules

• Wearing your shop required PPE

• Learning and FULLY understanding how to properly and safely use shop equipment/tools

​Common sense

• Common sense is the most commonly used tool within a shop work environment

​What is "PPE"?

• PPE stands for Personalized Protective Equipment

• PPE can be eye protection, hand protection, body protection, head/face protection and feet protection

• Why is PPE important? It protects your body from harmful dangers in the shop setting.

Forms of PPE

Eye Protection

• Safety glasses (Must wear at all times in the shop)

• Clear face shield (Used when operating a grinder or any tool that emits sparks)

• Tinted face shield/safety glasses (Used when operating a plasma cutter or Oxy-Acetylene torch)

• Welding hood (Used when performing any process of welding)

Forms of PPE

​Hearing protection

• The shop can be a loud environment, prolonged exposure to 90 decibels or louder can lead to hearing loss over time.

• Hearing loss is not sudden or happen automatically, it happens over time.

• You will be using ear plugs or ear muffs when operating grinders or saws

Forms of PPE

​Hand protection

• Gloves

• There are different types of gloves used in a shop setting

• Light duty gloves are used when moving material such as metal or wood. Can be used when using a grinder.

• Heat rated gloves are used when you are either welding or using the Oxy-Acetylene torch

Forms of PPE

​Clothing

• Shop clothing is one of the most important forms of PPE

• Long sleeved shirts/jackets FR (Fire Resistant) material or cotton are required for welding or any hot work

• Shirts with buttons must be buttoned all the way up

• Proper jeans, no holes/rips/frays allowed on jeans. DO NOT cuff the bottom of your jeans

Forms of PPE

​Footwear

• The type of footwear you wear in the shop is important too!

• Your shoes must be leather topped closed toed shoes to protect your feet. Work boots are an excellent option, just make sure they are comfortable as you will spend a lot of time on your feet.

• Steel/Composite toes, these will protect your feet from heavy objects that may fall on your feet but are not a requirement as they can be pricy

• Hey Dudes and slides are not allowed in the shop!

​Loose clothing/long hair/ jewelry

• Make sure your clothing fits properly, loose clothing can get caught in tools/machines.

• If your jeans are loose in the waist, be sure you have a belt to hold them up. NO SAGGING ALLOWED!!

• If you have long hair (young ladies or excessive mullet young men) make sure you have a hair tie.

• Jewelry, if you wear a necklace make sure it is tucked in beneath your shirt and is not hanging out over your work. If you wear bracelets or rings, make sure you remove them prior to working in the shop.

​Shop hazards

• In the shop you will encounter many different hazards, some of the more frequent hazards are...

• Lack of shop safety knowledge, can lead to shop accidents and/or injuries.

• Arc Flash, can cause eye damage over time and can burn exposed skin worse than sunburn

• Flying objects/particles can enter the eye

• Sparks and slag can seriously burn you

• Loud machines and tools, some produce high decibels and in prolonged use can cause hearing loss overtime.

Multiple Choice

True or False?

Learning shop safety is just for your safety alone

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What does PPE stand for?

• Personal Preferred Equipment

• Possible Protection Equipment

• Personal Protection Equipment

• Personal Protection Exam

Multiple Choice

Which is NOT a form of shop eye protection?

• Safety Glasses

• Tinted Face Shield

• Clear Face Shield

• Sunglasses

Multiple Choice

True or False?

Hearing loss happens immediately when working with loud tools

• False

• True

Multiple Choice

Which type of gloves would you use for using the Oxy-Acetylene Torch?

• Heat rated gloves

• Light duty gloves

Multiple Choice

Which is NOT proper shop clothing?

• Jeans without rips, holes or frays

• Long sleeve cotton shirt or FR jacket

• Properly fitting clothes

• Tank top

Multiple Choice

It is a shop work day and you forgot your work boots at home, but you have on a pair of Hey Dudes that are closed toed shoes. Can you still work in the shop today?

• Yes, Hey Dudes are proper closed toed shoes

• No, Hey Dudes are not proper closed toed shoes

Multiple Choice

You have a pair of jeans that fit a little loose and sag a bit. What do you need to fix this issue?

• Zip tie

• Piece of rope

• Nothing, it isn't an issue

• A belt

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a shop safety hazard?

• Flying objects/particles

• Sparks/slag

• Arc Flash

• Loud machine/tool

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

What is the most commonly used tool in a shop environment?

• PPE

• Safety Glasses

• Common sense

• Closed toed shoes