Dean Hinkler
All workshops and stores must be under the direct control of a supervisor, who is responsible for ensuring they are maintained and used in a safe and healthy manner. Only those authorised to do so may enter or work in workshops or stores, and must comply with the requirements of the supervisor whilst in that area.
Carpentry, welding, panel beating and paint spraying are just four of the jobs that could be associated with workshops. All too often a lack of good housekeeping and regular cleaning result in accidents such as cuts and pulled muscles. A lack of protection when welding could result in "arc eye" or respiratory problems; oil on a floor could result in slipping; permanent or temporary deafness can result from a lack of hearing when panel beating.
Workshops are non-laboratory situations where machinery and/or tools are used, in an indoor or outdoor situation. This advice also applies to fabrication, maintenance or other workshop-type activities not in the boundaries of a defined workshop area.
Before you can use equipment and machines or attempt practical work in a workshop you must understand basic safety rules. These rules will help keep you and others safe in the workshop.
This document is a summary of some of the design considerations and safety requirements for an all-purpose workshop. For detailed specifications, readers are advised to consult with the applicable statutory requirements in their respective jurisdictions, with the installation and operating specifications provided by the manufacturers and suppliers of shop machines, and with the materials safety data provided by the suppliers of workshop chemicals.
This article on workshop safety provides general guidelines on the following issues which seem to come up repeatedly when identifying hazards in an engineering factory or workshop: Machine guarding, Noise, Hazardous substances, Welding, First aid, Supervision, Manual handling, Certificates of competency, Floors, Passageways, stairs, ladders, and Confined Spaces.
Workshop safety rules
An efficient workshop can be one of the most cost-effective ways of maintaining plant and equipment on site. It can also be an area of great risk. The Aggregates & Recycling Information Network (http://www.agg-net.com/) have produced a very detailed workshop inspection checklist for employers that can be tailored to each location to ensure that workshops are operated safely.
Before you can use equipment and machines or attempt practical work in a workshop you must understand basic safety rules.
