Workshop Safety Lee McNeil, mentor of the Skagit Valley (WA) SeaTech 4-H ROV teams, developed the following placards, which he attaches to the tools in his ROV workshop. These placards provide operating instructions as well as note (in red) safety concerns. (Thanks, Lee, for sharing your best practices with the ROV education community!)

Drill Press: 1.Are you wearing safety glasses? 2.Tie back long hair, (shoulder length or longer), loose clothing, etc. 3.Clamp work piece to table. 4.Check chuck for tightness on bit. 5.Remove chuck key from spindle. 6.Tighten table lock to column. 7.Turn on work light. 8.Clear work area of others before turning on drill press motor. 9.Warning: Never reach into work piece while drill is running. 10.Please: Replace the bit after use!

Disk Sander 1.Are you wearing safety glasses? 2.Tie back long hair, (shoulder length or longer), loose clothing, etc. 3.Check table for squareness to disk. 4.Check gap between table and disk, (Caution: a leader must adjust gap) 5.Do not sand any flat work piece less than 1/8” thick on this sander. 6.Clear work area of others before turning on disk sander motor. 7.Warning: Never brush off table while disk is turning. 8.Always work on left side of disk.

Scroll Saw: 1.Are you wearing safety glasses? 2.Tie back long hair, (shoulder length or longer), loose clothing, etc. 3.Adjust hold-down to prevent work piece chatter. 4.Check saw blade clamps are snug. 5.Tighten table lock. 6.Turn on work light. 7.Check that sanding disk is clear. 8.Clear work area of others before turning on scroll saw motor. 9.Set speed to appropriate level for material, (slower for metals).

Drum Sander: 1.Are you wearing safety glasses? 2.Tie back long hair, (shoulder length or longer), loose clothing, etc. 3.Install correct drum dia. for the work, (Caution: Dia. should not be more than 60% of bore size on inside tubes). 4.Check drum tightness on spindle. 5.Select appropriate insert washer for drum, (closest size to drum diameter). 6.Clear work area of others before turning on drum sander motor. 7.Check that drum sander unit is centered on the stand, (it moves).

Lathe: 1.Are you wearing safety glasses? 2.Tie back long hair, (shoulder length or longer), loose clothing, etc. 3.Check chuck for tightness on piece, (use 6-jaw for thin pieces). 4.Remove chuck key from spindle! 5.Check clearance between chuck and cross-feed through complete travel. 6.Back tool holder away from piece. 7.Clear work area of others before turning on lathe motor. 8.Warning: Never reach into work piece while spindle is turning.

Vertical Band Saw: 1.Are you wearing safety glasses? 2.Tie back long hair, (shoulder length or longer), loose clothing, etc. 3.You must have a leader present. 4.Ensure blade is correct for material. 5.Set blade guide / guard to within.10” of top of work piece. 6.Check blade guide / guard is locked. 7.Clear work area of others before turning on band saw motor. 8.Warning: Never place hands / fingers in path of blade. 9.Use push blocks!

Metal Band Saw: 1.Are you wearing safety glasses? 2.Tie back long hair, (shoulder length or longer), loose clothing, etc. 3.Clamp work piece snuggly. 4.Set blade guide / guard to within an inch of work piece clamp. 5.Check blade guide / guard is locked. 6.Lift blade off of work piece. 7.Ensure feed force is correct for piece. 8.Clear work area of others before turning on band saw motor. 9.Warning: Keep hands / fingers away from blade area.

Table Saw: 1.Are you wearing safety glasses? 2.Tie back long hair, (shoulder length or longer), loose clothing, etc. 3.You must have a leader present. 4.Check blade height and angle. 5.Lock blade carriage. 6.Use fence or cross feed appropriately. 7.Clear work area of others before turning on table saw motor. 8.Warning: Never reach into work piece while saw is running! 9.Please: Place blade to vertical, and cross feed to perpendicular after use!

Router Table: 1.Are you wearing safety glasses? 2.Tie back long hair, (shoulder length or longer), loose clothing, etc. 3.You must have a leader present. 4.Adjust bit height for correct cut. 5.Check chuck for tightness on bit. 6.Set fence clearance to bit to smallest. 7.Ensure correct operation of bit guard. 8.Check table placement on work table. 9.Clear work area of others before turning on router motor. 10.Warning: Keep fingers on opposite side of work piece from bit.

Radial Arm Saw:  IMPORTANT: Under no circumstances should a student ever use this tool, (the blade is entirely above the table, and if jammed, will come towards the operator). If you assist a leader you should: 1.Wear safety glasses. 2.Wear hearing protection. 3.Stand behind and to the left of the operator when facing the saw. 4.Keep the floor and work area clear of other students and materials.