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Session 4: Makerspace Safety I

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Session 4

Makerspace Safety I

Some of You Are About to Meet a New Tool

Last session, we asked if your chosen concept needs a tool or material you haven't used before.

Before anyone touches anything in this room, we cover how to stay safe doing it.

Safety Isn't a Footnote

In this course, safety is a graded competency, the same as measurement or documentation.

Safety Isn't a Footnote

Not a one-time lecture you sit through and forget. Something you're expected to actually demonstrate.

Two Safety Sessions

  • Today: recognizing hazards across the whole shop
  • Next time: hands-on certification on the specific tools you'll actually use

Hazard + Practice, Paired

Every hazard in this room has a matching safe practice.

Hazard + Practice, Paired

You don't need to memorize a list. You need to be able to recognize a hazard and name what you'd actually do about it.

Hazard Categories You'll See Today

  • Sharp edges & blades
  • Moving parts & pinch points
  • Dust & debris
  • Noise
  • Electrical
  • Walkways & clutter

Today's Activity: Shop Walkthrough

In small groups, tour the makerspace. At each station your instructor points out, identify the hazard and the matching safe practice.

What You're Graded On

Not a written test.

Engagement during the walkthrough, and being able to restateone hazard/practice pair in your own words when asked.

Two Things to Remember

Safety isn't a memorized list.

It's recognizing a hazard in context — the same room can be safe or unsafe depending on what you're doing in it.

Two Things to Remember

If you don't know, ask before you touch it.

Every single time. No exceptions, no matter how simple it looks.

Next Time

Session 5: Makerspace Safety II

Hands-on demonstrations and a certification quiz on the specific tools you'll need.

'F' → Fullscreen

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Build

Today's "build" is the walkthrough itself. At each station your instructor points out, fill in the hazard and the matching safe practice.

Worked Example

StationHazardSafe Practice
Table sawSpinning blade can't tell your fingers from the materialPush stick for narrow cuts, hands always clear of the blade's path, blade guard stays on

Your Walkthrough Checklist

For each category, name the station where you saw it and the matching practice:

  • Sharp edges & blades
  • Moving parts & pinch points
  • Dust & debris
  • Noise
  • Electrical
  • Walkways & clutter

You don't need a hazard for every category if your instructor didn't point one out — but you do need at least three complete pairs by the end of the walkthrough.

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Checkpoint

Before you move on, close your notes and check yourself: can you restate one hazard/practice pair from today, out loud, in your own words — not read off the page?

If you can't, pick your clearest pair and re-walk it in your head: what's the hazard, specifically, and what's the one thing you'd actually do differently because of it?

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Reflection

Answer the following questions before submitting your work.

  1. Pick one hazard/practice pair from today. Write both in your own words — not copied from the board.
  2. Which station's hazard surprised you most — something you wouldn't have flagged as risky before today?
  3. Look back at your Session 3 concept sketches — which specific tool or machine does your chosen concept depend on most? Session 5 is where you'll get certified on tools like it.
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Submit

Submit your walkthrough checklist and your reflection.

Activity Complete