Woodworking Shop Guidelines

The Three Guidelines

Woodworking Rules

Room

1. Both doors to the woodworking room should remain locked when the room is not in use.
2. Students may use the room only when a supervising faculty member is present.
3. Woodworking projects, tools, and equipment may be used only during woodworking periods, or at other times if approved in advance by a teacher.
4. When arriving for class, wait at the door until given permission to enter.
5. Enter the class quietly and wait for any directions before beginning work. Do not touch equipment, tools or projects until allowed to do so.

Safety and emergencies

1. Immediately report any injury to the teacher.
2. Be prepared at all times to quickly stop and pay close attention to the teacher.
3. If someone gets hurt, be part of the solution, not the problem. In emergencies, wait quietly and be prepared to help if asked. You may be asked to call 911, report the injury to the office, support the injured person, or get first aide supplies. If you are asked to help, do so quietly and quickly. If you are not asked to help, you can be of most service to the injured person by waiting quietly and letting the teacher or emergency team do their job.
4. Stay ready at all times to respond immediately to the commands Take Five and Take Ten. These are used only when the immediate attention of the whole class is needed, for example if a serious injury occurs or if an important announcement needs to be made.

5. “Take five” means:

   1. Immediately stop all work and talk, and
   2. hold tools that are already in your hands still, and
   3. pay attention to the teacher.

6. “Take ten” means:

   1. Immediately stop all work and tal, and
   2. put all tools down quickly and safely, and
   3. pay attention to the teacher.

Tools and equipment

1. Never sit on a bench when others are working at the same bench.

2. Protect the surfaces of woodworking benches and tables. Always place scrap wood under your project if there is a chance of damaging the table.

3. Only use tools for which you have been trained and for which you have teacher approval.

4. Use tools only as they were designed to be used.

5. Never point a sharp tool towards yourself or another person. Never throw or drop tools.

6. Never let cutting tool blades touch or bump into each other as this can dull both blades at once. (Examples of cutting tools include gouges, chisels, saws, and carving knives.)

7. Never use a cutting tool on a surface that has already been sanded. The grit from sandpaper becomes embedded in the wood and can destroy the edge of cutting tools.

1. Carry tools only in your hands or appropriate carrying equipment. Carry no more than one tool in each hand.

2. Never use damanged, dull, or otherwise dangerous tools.

3. Immediately bring broken tools to the teacher.

4. Do not use tools that have been put aside for repair.

5. Stop every half hour or so to trade tools that are needed by many others.

6. Never run or clown around in the woodworking shop or near woodworking tools.

7. Return tools to the correct location when finished. Do not leave unused tools in your work area or on the tables.

8. Do not remove wood, tools or equipment from the woodworking room without permission.

Clean up

Clean up is an important part of woodworking. A clean and orderly shop is safer. All must work together to ensure that tools and equipment are kept clean and safe. Students who avoid participating in cleanup will be removed from the program.

Clean up tasks

1. Everyone cleans up together until all are finished.

2. Minimize conversations during cleanup.

3. Clean up your own work area. Be sure your name is on your project and put it away in the appropriate location.

4. Put away all tools and equipment.

5. Sweep table tops and put away any chairs.

6. Pick up larger chucks of wood that might clog the vacuum.

7. Sweep and vacuum the floor.

8. Look for anything else that needs cleanup. Check the tool racks, counter surfaces, wood bins, and other supplies.

9. Put away all brooms and cleaning materials.

10. Wait quietly to be dismissed.