General Safety Plan
Participation in Maker Club events will be strictly limited to ages 7 and up; participants under age 10 must be accompanied by an adult who works with them. Participation in Teen Maker Club events will be strictly limited to ages 12 and up.
Teen Maker Club participants will be asked to arrive on time in order to receive instructions for safe tool usage. A review of relevant safety rules will occur before anyone touches any tools. Before using the tools, the group will review the parts of the tool, basic techniques, and what NOT to do.
Maker Club participants and accompanying parents will be informed of tool-specific guidelines on an individual as-needed basis, included hard copies of relevant portions of this plan if desired.
Teens will be required to provide a signed parental release form before participating in Maker Club Teen events. Emergency contact information must be provided.
The Maker Space will be equipped with a first aid kit, including antiseptic and bandages.
The usual Maker Space (community room) is equipped with a fire extinguisher. For events held elsewhere, a portable fire extinguisher will be on hand (e.g., the soldering event).
Attendees who fail to follow safety procedures repeatedly will not be allowed to participate.
Basic Guidelines (Maker/Teen Maker Club)
Label your work space so we know who’s working where!
Keep your tools near your work space.
Put away your tools and unused supplies when it’s time to clean up.
Please try to conserve materials, such as cutting felt shapes from the edge of the felt piece instead of the middle. This way we can maximize our resources and have more funds for future events!
Take home only the supplies you need to finish your project.
TOOL/EVENT SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
Scissors (Maker/Teen Maker Club)
ALWAYS:
Keep your scissors at your work space.
Carry your scissors by the closed blades, pointed down.
Use scissors by opening and closing the blades. Do not use them to hack, chop, or pry. If you can’t easily cut it by opening and closing your scissors, you probably need a different tool.
Things you can cut with scissors: paper, cardstock, string, yarn, tape, cereal box type cardboard, foam sheets, straws
Things you shouldn’t cut with scissors: wire, plastic, wood, corrugated cardboard, popsicle sticks
NEVER: Use scissors to try to poke a hole in something.
Leave your scissors on your chair or on the floor.
Run with scissors.
Glue Gun (Maker/Teen Maker Club)
ALWAYS:
Be aware of the tip of the glue gun when setting it down after use. The tip should not be touching things it could burn such as the cord, table cloth, and making supplies.
Use tweezers to hold small items while gluing them, and to move them around while the glue is still hot.
Wait for glue to cool before you touch it.
NEVER:
Touch the tip of the glue gun. Assume that every glue gun is hot!
Leave your glue gun on the floor or a chair where it could be stepped on or sat on.
Cardboard Saw (aka rounded tip serrated steak knife) (Maker/Teen Maker Club)
The cardboard saw is for cardboard and a few other items, such as foam pool noodles or Styrofoam.
BEFORE YOU SAW
Accuracy Tip: Draw a line where you want to cut.
Accuracy Tip: Lay the cardboard flat and gently score along the line for easier and more accurate sawing.
Stabilize the cardboard:
Stand the cardboard up on the carpet, using your “not cutting” hand to hold the cardboard just to the side of where you are cutting.
Another option is to have the line you want cut a couple inches off the edge of a table and your opposite hand pressing the cardboard down on the table so it does not move while you are cutting the cardboard with the other hand.
Make sure your fingers and body are not in the path of your saw.
HOW TO SAW
Use a back-and-forth sawing action to cut through the cardboard. Grip the handle and move the tool forward and backward as you cut along your line. Slow down as you near the end of your line or edge of your cardboard.
Cut by sawing back and forth, not by pressing down.
NEVER: Leave your saw on the floor or on your chair. Use your saw to poke a hole in the cardboard. There are other, safer ways to do this; check with an adult. Use the saw to cut something you shouldn’t. If you’re not sure what is ok to cut, ask an adult.
Iron (Maker/Teen Maker Club) - Maker Club participants will use the iron only under direct adult supervision.
ALWAYS:
Assume that the iron is hot. Only touch the handle!
Set the iron down on its base when you are not using it.
Iron fabric on an ironing board or ironing pad, never on the bare table or carpet.
Iron Perler Beads on a cork trivet and have Perler Bead paper in between the design and the iron.
Iron Perler Beads using a small circular motion, occasionally looking at beads to see if they have connected.
Drill (Maker/Teen Maker Club) - Maker Club participants will use the drill only under direct adult supervision.
ALWAYS:
Wear safety glasses when using a drill.
Roll up loose sleeves and tie back long hair. (Hair ties will be on hand.)
Make sure the item you’re drilling into is clamped securely before you start drilling.
Check to make sure the drill bit is secure in the drill chuck.
Keep your hands and fingers away from the rotating drill chuck and bit.
Take Aparts (Maker/Teen Maker Club) - Maker Club participants will only do Take Aparts under direct adult supervision
ALWAYS: Wear safety glasses/goggles when taking things apart. You may supply your own safety glasses if you have a preferred type.
Be careful and watch your fingers! Old machines and electronics can contain glass and sharp edges.
Treat the parts gently; try to disassemble it without breaking any of the pieces.
Use tools properly:
Use screwdrivers, hex keys, and wrenches to unscrew screws, nuts, and bolts. Make sure you use the right one for the right job! If you’re not sure, ask. Use pliers to grip and pull things.
NEVER: Pry up edges or small items using your screwdriver or pliers. Pound or hammer with your tools. Put your hands in your mouth or rub your eyes while taking things apart. Old electronics can contain harmful substances. Wash your hands well with soap after taking your item apart.
Xacto Knife (Teen Maker Club ONLY)
ALWAYS:
Know where your Xacto knife is! You are responsible for keeping track of it and putting it away when you are finished.
Wear safety glasses when Xacto knives are used, even if you are not using one. You may supply your own safety glasses if you have a preferred type.
Cut only on a self healing cutting mat.
Hold the material you are cutting firmly with your other hand, making sure that your fingers are away from the path of the blade.
Use a metal ruler as a guide for straight cuts.
Pull towards yourself to cut.
Use just enough pressure to cut through the material. If you are pressing hard, you might need a new blade or a different tool.
Use the proper grip when cutting – it’s a lot like holding a pencil:
Put your knife in its holder when you are not using it. Put the cap on your knife and put it away when you are finished with it.
If you feel like the blade on your knife is not secure, stop using it and tell an adult.
NEVER: Press down too hard. Putting lots of pressure on the blade can cause the tip to snap off and cause injury.
Walk around with an uncapped knife!
Attempt to change your blade yourself! If your knife become dull (harder to cut with), put it in its holder and ask an adult for a new blade/knife.
Soldering Iron (Teen Maker Club ONLY) Because of ventilation issues, soldering event will be held either under the maintenance shed overhang or in the shed itself (depending on the wind).
For our soldering event, we will have two soldering stations. Each will be supervised by an adult to ensure safety and proper technique. One person will solder at a time at each soldering station.
ALWAYS:
Wear safety glasses when soldering, or watching someone else solder.
Wear a long-sleeved shirt and closed-toed shoes when soldering. No tanktops or flipflops! If you are wearing short sleeves, bring an old long-sleeved shirt to solder in.
Put the soldering iron on its stand when not in use.
Give the item you’ve soldered a minute or two to cool down before touching it.
Wash your hands well with soap and water after soldering.
NEVER: Touch the tip of the soldering iron. Always assume that every soldering iron is hot!
Breathe the solder fumes.
Set the iron down on the workbench. Always put it in its stand.
Solder near flammable items such as paper.