SCASA Design and Technologies: Safety considerations for the design and development of products using specialised technologies, including ways to use tools safely in the workshop (Year 7, Technologies and society).
Aboriginal Cultural Standards Framework (DETWA): Cultural Responsiveness Standard - Staff demonstrate high expectations by embedding Aboriginal cultural knowledge in teaching, ensuring respect for community values and safe practices.
Cross-Curriculum Priority: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures - Students explore traditional practices like tool-making to understand safe and ethical tool use.
Safety in the woodwork workshop is paramount because it is a dangerous place with tools and machinery that can cause serious injury if not handled properly. Everyone must follow workshop rules and teacher instructions to prevent accidents. Safety is not just the teacher's responsibility but everyone's in the workshop. Report all injuries immediately, no matter how minor, as they can become infected. The most common cause of eye injury is not wearing eye protection, and damaged eyes are irreplaceable. To avoid eye damage, always wear proper eye protection. If something gets in your eye, flush it out with water. Hearing damage from loud noises is irreversible and cannot be reversed by avoiding further loud noises. If you do not understand something, stop and ask the teacher for instruction. Do not lean against a machine while someone else is operating it. Wood dust is harmful when inhaled, even though it is organic, and can cause lung damage. To prevent this, turn on the dust extractor and wear a dust mask. Only one person is allowed inside the yellow line surrounding a machine, and only one person should operate each machine.
Clean your workbench using a bannister brush and dustpan, not by blowing or brushing with your hand. Report damaged equipment immediately to the teacher. The most dangerous hazard in the workshop is irresponsible individuals. It is the responsibility of everyone to report hazards such as damaged machines, frayed cords, or blunt tools. WHS stands for Workplace Health and Safety. The most common type of eye injury in the workshop is scratches to the eye. Falls can be fatal from a height of as small as 3 meters or less. To prevent slips and falls, report spills, walk not run, and keep the floor clear of slip hazards. Keep the floor clear of off-cuts and debris, and immediately report or clean up spills of liquids and oils. Pay attention to your surroundings. Appropriate footwear in the workshop includes sturdy, fully enclosed, leather school shoes or steel cap boots. PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment, which must be worn at all times in the workshop. When packing up, put away tools, sweep down your workbench, put away your project, and sweep the floor. Long hair should be tied back with a hair net or band when near or operating machinery like drills and lathes.
Hand tools are potentially dangerous if used incorrectly. Inform your teacher if tools are damaged or blunt. Always work with your hands and body behind the cutting edge. Clamp down your work in a vice or on a bench hook when working with timber and hand tools. Always wear your personal protective equipment when appropriate. When walking with sharp tools, hold them pointing down to avoid injuring others. Never run while carrying sharp tools. Do not put sharp objects, nails, or tools in your pockets. Never force the path of a tool with excessive effort; properly sharpened tools do not need to be forced to cut timber. Do not test the sharpness of a tool with your finger. Never use a tool if you have not had specific instruction in its use; ask your teacher if unsure. The appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn at all times in the workshop. Select the best hand tool that matches the task, fits the workspace, fits the user's hand, can be used comfortably, and is well maintained. Fit the tool to the person, not the person to the tool. Do not put a chisel in your apron pocket. Running while holding a sharp tool can result in injury to yourself or others. When passing a tool to a friend, hand it to them, do not throw it. Never carry sharp objects in your pocket, as it could result in a stab wound if you fall.
Guards on tools and machinery are physical barriers that protect from dangerous parts. Inspect guards before use to ensure they are present and secured, and report missing or damaged guards to your teacher. Never remove or modify a guard. Never modify a tool, as it could result in failure and injury; modifying means changing a tool, such as increasing the length of its handles or removing safety guards. When chiselling, avoid forcing the cutting edge toward your body to prevent serious injury. When using a utility knife, keep fingers out of the blade's path. Blunt tools are not safer than sharp tools; sharp tools are safer because they require less force. Never attempt a cutting operation while holding the work in your hand; secure it on the workbench with a clamp or bench hook. Do not use a chisel to open a can of varnish. Chiselling should be done with hands behind the cutting edge and away from the body. If you see a file without a handle, give it to the teacher or get one with a handle. The exposed tang on a file is sharp and can cause a deep wound. Never use a file without a handle.
Safety signs are visual messages that help prevent accidents by warning of hazards or requiring actions. Prohibition signs are red circles with a diagonal slash, meaning an action is banned, like no running. Mandatory signs are blue circles with white symbols, indicating required actions like wearing eye protection or hearing protection. Warning signs are yellow triangles with black symbols, alerting to dangers like high voltage, toxic materials, corrosive substances, or radiation. Safe condition signs are green squares with white symbols, providing information like first aid locations or emergency showers. Other signs include no access for unauthorized persons and unsafe to drink. These signs ensure compliance with standards like OSHA and ANSI, promoting a safe environment. Combining safety signs with practices like respectful tool handling from Aboriginal knowledge enhances responsibility and prevents harm.
1. Prohibition signs are __________ circles with a slash.
✅ ❌2. Mandatory signs are __________ circles.
✅ ❌3. Warning signs are __________ triangles.
✅ ❌4. Safe condition signs are __________ squares.
✅ ❌5. The most common cause of __________ injury is not wearing protection.
✅ ❌6. Safety in the workshop is the __________ of everyone.
✅ ❌7. __________ all injuries no matter how minor.
✅ ❌8. Hearing damage is __________.
✅ ❌9. Only __________ person should operate each machine.
✅ ❌10. Wood dust can cause __________ damage.
✅ ❌1. What does a prohibition sign mean?
2. What does an eye protection mandatory sign indicate?
3. What does a hearing protection mandatory sign mean?
4. What is the purpose of a high voltage warning sign?
5. What does a radiation warning sign indicate?
6. What does a toxic/poison warning sign indicate?
7. What does a corrosive materials warning sign mean?
8. What does an unsafe to drink sign indicate?
9. What does a no access for unauthorized persons sign mean?
10. What does an emergency shower safe condition sign indicate?
11. The workshop is a dangerous place and you must follow all rules.
12. Safety is only the teacher's responsibility.
13. Students are only responsible for their own safety.
14. Report all injuries when they occur no matter how minor.
15. The most common cause of eye injury is not wearing eye protection.
16. Hearing damage can be reversed by avoiding further loud noises.
17. If you do not understand, stop and ask the teacher.
18. It is alright to lean against a machine while someone operates it.
19. Wood dust does no harm when inhaled as it is organic.
20. How many people are allowed inside the yellow line around a machine?
21. How many people should operate each machine?
22. The proper way to clean a workbench covered with dust and shavings is:
23. If you see damaged equipment, you should:
24. The most dangerous hazard in the workshop is:
25. If you get something in your eye, flush or float the particles out with:
26. To avoid eye damage, you should:
27. WHS stands for:
28. The most common type of eye injury in the workshop is:
29. Falls can be fatal from a height of:
30. The best way to prevent slips and falls is:
31. PPE stands for:
32. Long hair should be tied back when near machinery.
33. Never use a tool without specific instruction.
34. Blunt tools are safer than sharp tools.
35. It is fine to remove a guard on a machine.
36. It is fine to put a chisel in your apron pocket.
37. Running while holding a sharp tool can result in injury.
38. When passing a tool, you should hand it, not throw it.
39. Using a chisel to open a can of varnish is ok.
40. Never use a file without a handle.
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