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ROBOTICS SAFETY

WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System):

Workplace Hazardous Information System is designed to protect the users from


potentially dangerous situations when working with classified substances.

By law, any hazardous material needs to be identified, labeled, and documented by


WHMIS protocol.

There are three major parts to WHMIS:

1) Hazard symbols
2) Warning labels
3) Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Hazard Symbols:

There are 6 main classes hazards are grouped into.

Class A: Compressed gas

Class B: Flammable and combustible material

Class C: Oxidizing material


Class D: There are three divisions in Class D

Division 1: Materials causing immediate and serious toxic effects

Division 2: Materials causing other toxic effects

Division 3: Biohazardous infectious materials

Class E: Corrosive materials

Class F: Dangerously reactive materials


Warning Labels:

Warning labels must be on containers for materials covered under the WHMIS system.
If a material is transferred to another container, a label must be created and attached to
the new container. These labels contain important information for the safe storage,
handling, use, and disposal of these substances. Proper PPE and first aid information is
included on these labels as well.

WHMIS warning labels must provide the following information:

1) Material identification
2) Hazard symbols
3) Risk phrases
4) Precautionary measures
5) First aid
6) Supplier identification
7) References to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS):

These sheets provide comprehensive information and must be kept on site where the
materials will be used/based from. MSDS list:

1) Information for the proper use of the chemical product


2) Any hazardous ingredients
3) Health hazard data
4) Fire and explosion hazard data
5) Reactivity data
6) Toxicological properties
7) Preventative measures
8) First aid procedures
9) Name and phone number of supplier

These sheets must be available for anyone who is using a hazardous chemical as
identified by WHMIS. It is the worker’s responsibility to read these sheets before using
the hazardous materials.
General Safety:

1. You may work with equipment


only after you have been
instructed on the safe usage
of the machine.
2. You may not use any
stationary equipment unless
the instructor is present.
3. All guards or safety devices
for a piece of equipment must
be in working order and used
when operating the
equipment.
4. Obtain permission from instructor before starting any operation on any stationary
piece of equipment or power tool.
5. Make sure work area is kept tidy, especially when working around equipment
with rotating parts.
6. Loose clothing must be tucked in. Watches, rings, lanyards, and jewelry must be
removed before starting power tools. Strings from hoodies, dangling necklaces,
and ties must be removed or tucked in so that there is no chance they will get
free to get caught in moving machine parts.
7. Eye protection must be used for all power tools.
8. Do not leave tools lying around. Clean them up and put them away as soon as
you have finished using them.
9. Only the operator of a tool can start a power tool they will be using.
10. Only the operator and the instructor are allowed within the 1 metre safety zone
around any stationary power tool when it is being used.
11. Do not carry on a conversation with the operator of a power tool while it is
running.
12. You must remain with a machine you are using while it is running, even if the
power has been shut off. You are not allowed to leave until the machine has
stopped completely.
13. Make sure the work area around machines is kept clean and neat. Clean up your
waste, chips, and off cuts as soon as you are done.
14. Stop machines and make sure they have come to a complete stop before you
start cleaning them.
15. Never stand in line with the “throw” path of a machine.
16. Long hair must be tied back so that it cannot get caught in a machine with
moving or spinning parts that you may be using.
17. In case of fire alarm, shut all tools off and walk to the designated muster point.
18. All rags with oily/flammable substances on them must be disposed of in the
approved covered metal container.
19. Keep all traffic paths clear of materials, tools, and other tripping hazards.
20. Any liquid spills must be cleaned up immediately.
21. Do not place items on high locations where there may be a danger of them
falling.
22. No running, horseplay, wrestling, or other non-productive activities are allowed in
the lab areas.
23. Do not throw anything in the lab areas.
24. Report any defective/broken/misadjusted piece of equipment immediately to the
instructor.
25. All injuries must be reported to the instructor immediately.
26. If you do not feel well (such as feeling dizzy), do not operate any equipment and
report to the instructor immediately.
27. To lift heavy or awkward objects, lift with your legs, do not bend your back to lift
them.
28. Long pieces of material require two people to carry them to prevent possible
contact with others.
29. Do not move anything unless you know your travel path is clear.

Personal Protective Equipment:

Personal protective equipment is any safety


device that an individual uses to protect
themselves. These are separate from physical,
chemical, ergonomic, emotional, and biological
hazards that must be controlled and safety
provisions provided for by the employer.

Items that a person is responsible for include the


following:

a) eye protection: safety goggles


b) Hands: safety gloves
c) Lungs: dust mask
d) Feet: steel-toed boots
e) Ears: earplugs
f) Head: hardhat
g) Visibility: Reflective clothing

Hand Tools and Bench Work:

1. Do not throw hand tools to pass them in the classroom/lab areas.


2. Pass tools to others handle first, blade side down.
3. Do not leave materials or tools projecting over the edge of benches.
4. Do not leave materials projecting out of vises.
5. Keep tool handles clean of oily/greasy substances.
6. Do not use wrenches that are cracked or have worn or sprung jaws.
7. Do not carry sharp edged tools in your pockets.
8. Do not use a tool that is supposed to have a sharp edge if it is dull.
9. Cut away from your body.
10. Do not use a file without a handle unless it is meant
to be used as is.
11. Do not use a cold chisel with a mushroomed head.
Have it ground with a bevel prior to use.
12. Do not slide hands or fingers along sheet metal
edges. These can make ragged cuts that will infect
easily.
13. Do not strike two hardened surfaces together. The hammers may shatter,
shooting shards of metal.
14. Never point an air nozzle at anyone.
15. Never use compressed air to clean off your clothes.

Electrical Safety:

1. Do not work on any circuit that is energized.


2. Do not change the fuse or breaker size.
3. Make sure your hands and work area are dry when
working with electricity.
4. Make sure electrical cords are in good condition.
5. Do not power up a circuit until it has been checked.
6. Insulate all bare wires/splices.
7. When powering up a circuit for the first time, be ready to shut it off immediately if
it does not appear to be operating as it should.
8. Do not leave a circuit powered on even if it looks like nothing is happening. There
may be a short circuit which would destroy components on the circuit board if left
on.
9. Make sure the wire size used is appropriate for the current it is carrying.
10. Do not pry open a wet cell battery. The acid can burn and blind you.
11. Always use a charger with a limit/monitoring circuit so that batteries cannot be
overcharged.
12. Always make the positive connection first when connecting a battery to a
charger. Always disconnect it last when removing the battery.

Power Tool Safety:

1. When making bit changes, make sure the tool is powered off and that the
machine cannot be started while it is being set up.
2. Do not drape extension cords across walkways.
3. Make sure your hands are dry before using an
electric tool.
4. Remember to wear your PPE when using power
hand tools.
5. Clamp work to the drill press table or use a vise to
hold it.
6. Remove the chuck key from the drill press before
starting it.
7. Do not use bare hands to clean up metal chips and shavings.

3-in-one Metal Former Safety:

1. Keep fingers away from rollers, bending dies, and cutting jaws.
2. Do not attempt to cut/form material thicker than the machine is
rated for.
3. Cut only one thickness of sheet metal at a time.

Circuit Board Prototyping:

1. Safety glasses and rubber gloves must be worn when


working close to circuit board developer.
2. Do not look directly at the exposing table lights when
they are on. The high UV can damage your retina.
3. Safety glasses and rubber gloves must be worn when
working close to etchant.
4. Take care not to get etchant on skin or clothing.
5. Do not inhale the fumes from developing or etching.
6. Wear safety glasses when drilling holes in circuit board.
7. Wipe up any spilled chemicals immediately while wearing appropriate PPE.
8. Place covers on chemical trays as soon as you are done with them.
9. Rinse circuit board well in water after processing it in chemicals.
10. Safety glasses must be worn when drilling circuit board holes.

Soldering Safety:

1. Wear safety glasses when soldering.


2. Do not touch solder iron tip when it is
plugged in.
3. Return solder iron to holder between
soldering operations.
4. Do not breathe in solder fumes.
5. Do not use lead-based solder.
6. Do not touch molten solder.
7. Do not solder above body parts.
8. Wash hands well after soldering.

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