Every member has the responsibility to keep themselves and others safe while using the Hackspace. Please use common sense and familiarise yourself with the guidance found on this wiki, as well as Hackspace policies before working in the Hackspace.
Our equipment and tools are categorised in to three groups based on risk potential:
High risk of personal injury or moderate or higher risk of damage to equipment from untrained use.
The device is NOT TO BE USED unless you have been through and passed the induction plan for the device.
- Do not use if the workshop is busy or the area around the machine is cluttered
- Do not use if you suffer any condition that might lead to lack of concentration
- Do not use the machine in poor lighting conditions
Low to moderate risk of personal injury
These are the types of devices that most Hackspace members will likely already be familiar with and have used at some point. Members can be ‘asked’ to attend training if they are seen to be struggling, but the expectation is people will know their limits and be responsible and ask for help.
- Training optional, but you must feel confident in the use of the device and have read the related wiki page.
- If you are in any way unsure, you must stop and ask for help.
Negligible Risk
Devices that represent low to no risk. If you need help with one of these, just grab the nearest member and ask.
- No formal safety training offered, but most members will be able to assist you should you need help.
- There is a first aid kit on the left, inside the door to the digital fabrication room.
- Alert another member of the hackspace, and a director or room lead as soon as possible.
- If the wound is serious, seek assistance and call 999 for ambulance.
- The workshop address is "1A The Runnings, Kingsditch Trading Estate, Cheltenham, GL51 9NJ".
- Ensure the incident is recorded in the accident log.
- Learn locations of fire extinguishers and first aid kits; ask someone if you are not sure.
- Ensure there is at least one other person in the room who can assist in case of incident.
- Do not wear loose clothing, gloves or jewellery; it can get caught in the machines.
- Wear non-slip shoes to avoid slipping, and maintain an upright stance (not leaning over) with legs slightly apart to aid balance.
- Read safety precaution information on equipment wiki page before use.
- Turn off equipment when not in use; reduces risk and helps the environment too.
- Keep the workshop tidy.
- Safety goggles must be worn - ensure they have the CE mark on them!
- Wear a dust mask and/or use the dust collector, particularly if cutting chipboard, MDF or plastic sheets (see Use of materials section below).
- Keep hands away from blades, drills, etc., at all times - assume something will go wrong.
- Place the heel of your hands on the table edge so that you cannot easily be pushed into the cutting instrument.
- Stand in a well balanced position facing the blade.
-
- MDF such should not be cut with power tools in our mixed-use workshop unless effective dust collection is used.
- Only laser-safe MDF is safe to cut in the laser cutter, as non-laser grade may produce formaldehyde when laser cut,
- Use dust extractor.
- Wear a dust mask.
- Avoid using if the workshop is busy.
-
- There are many limitations to what the laser cutter can cut/engrave. Check the laser cutter page for specific details.
-
- Our laser cutter isn't powerful enough to cut metal and is the wrong wavelength laser light for metals.
- There are limits to what our other equipment can do with metal.
- Always check the equipment page or ask the relevant room lead for guidance before working with metal.