Safety Policy
The Engineering Fabrication Laboratory (EFL) consists of the Student Machine Shop area (1220 Bainer Hall) and the Student Project area (1230 Bainer Hall). The following safety policies are required to be followed by all users of the EFL. Violation of these safety policies may result in loss of facility access or other disciplinary action at the discretion of the EFL Manager.
Eye Protection
Eye protection that meets the ANSI Z-87.1-1989 standard must be worn at all times while in the EFL, except for offices, restrooms, and break areas. Safety glasses with side shields are posted at each entrance door for occasional users and visitors. Frequent users of these facilities are encouraged to purchase their own safety glasses.
For people who wear corrective glasses, eye protection must be of the type that can be worn over glasses. Prescription-ground safety lenses may be substituted if they provide equivalent protection and if side shields are firmly attached to the glasses frame.
All users and visitors who are welding or viewing welding activities must wear eye protection from the radiation produced by welding. Appropriate eye protection will be provided at the welding areas.
Arc welding or arc cutting operations require the use of welding helmets with an appropriate filter lens.
Goggles with filter plates or tinted glass are required for gas welding or oxygen cutting operations.
Full-face shields and safety glasses are required for portable hand grinding operations.
Hand and Body Protection
Ties, rings, watches, bracelets, unbuttoned long sleeves, dresses, or other loose clothing cannot be worn while operating machinery.
Long hair must be tied back or covered by a cap while operating machinery.
Long pants must be worn when working with any machine tools or equipment, sheet metal or metal scraps, and welding equipment.
Gloves must not be worn when operating any rotating machinery. Gloves are recommended for handling sheet metal and sharp tools.
Machine guards provided for a machine must be in place whenever the machine is operated. Guards or shields removed for maintenance must be replaced before the machine is used.
Avoid skin contact with mill cutters, metal chips, and metal burrs.
Respiratory Protection
Students in shop classes and occasional shop users do not need fitted respirators when welding steel unless a significant amount of welding is planned.
Fitted respirators must be worn when welding stainless steel or galvanized metal, or when using uncured epoxies.
Welding must be conducted with good ventilation. The movable welding fume hoods and auxiliary ventilation must be used whenever welding is occurring inside the shop areas.
Foot Protection
Closed-toe shoes must be worn when working with any machine tools or equipment, hand tools, sheet metal or metal scraps, and welding equipment.
Back Protection
Do not attempt to lift more than 50 lbs unassisted, and should ask others to help in lifting any heavy tool, attachment, or equipment.
Ask a qualified EFL staff member to help with using the hoist, fork truck, and other lifting devices as needed to prevent back injuries.
Chemical Safety
All oil and other chemical waste are to be disposed in the hazardous waste drums located near the west gate of the Student Machine Shop area. The EFL Manager must be consulted before a new waste material is added to a drum other than what is already listed on the drum waste label.
MSDS information is located in the Student Machine Shop area washroom, and in the safety cabinet in the Student Project area. Always consult the MSDS when using a chemical for the first time, or when a review of the safety precautions is needed.
The EFL Manager must be informed whenever a new chemical is brought into the EFL. Any new chemical, cleaner, or solvent that is brought into the EFL must have a copy of the MSDS on file in the particular area in which the chemical is used and stored.
Flammable chemicals must be stored in a designated flammable cabinet. Acids, bases, and strong oxidizing chemicals must be stored in segregated cabinets.
Chemical resistant gloves must be worn whenever paints, epoxies, solvents, or other chemicals are used. Disposable nitrile gloves are provided that are effective barriers for most chemicals found in the shop areas. Other glove types will be provided if nitrile gloves are insufficient for a specific chemical needed in the shop areas.
Visitor Safety
A “visitor” is defined as a person who is not intending to use shop equipment or hand tools, but must visit the EFL facilities for a short time.
The pathway between the yellow lines painted on the area floors is to keep visitors who are not wearing long pants and closed toed shoes away from machining, fabrication, and welding areas. This pathway also marks the egress route in case of evacuation. The pathway must be kept unobstructed and clear of debris such as metal chips, machinery, hand tools, and other objects.
EFL staff must escort visitors around the Student Machine Shop area when moving outside the aisles marked by yellow lines if the visitors are not wearing long pants and closed toed shoes. Likewise, Student project team leaders or EFL staff must escort visitors around the Student Project area when moving outside the aisles marked by yellow lines if the visitors are not wearing long pants and closed toed shoes.
Required Safety Training
All participants in student competition projects must have documented initial safety training before beginning work on a student competition project. This training must include the basics of the EFL Injury and Illness Prevention Program, EFL Safety Policy, building evacuation procedures, communication of general hazards in the work place, and any hazards that are specific to the particular student competition project.
All machine tools and welding equipment have potential safety hazards. Machine tools and welding equipment can only be used if safety training on that machine has been completed and documented. Students may become authorized to use some machine tools and welding equipment under the supervision of EFL staff by successfully completing the Shop Safety/Orientation class or EME 50. Infrequent shop users or those with habitual violation of safety policies may be asked to repeat safety training at the discretion of the EFL Manager.
Chemical safety training is required for all EFL users who will be using chemicals of any kind. This training is given either by campus EH&S or the College of Engineering EH&S Coordinator. Use of certain chemicals, such as epoxies, may require additional training and a fitted respirator from campus EH&S.
General Safety Practices
Machine operators should not be startled while in contact with the machine. Avoid sudden loud noises when others are using machine tools in the same room.
Never leave a machine tool running unattended unless you have prior approval of the EFL staff.
Always remove a lathe chuck key immediately after use, and place the key in the holder before operating the lathe.
Each machine can only have one operator at a time, unless you have discussed with an EFL staff member how work will be safely delegated to assistants.
Personal entertainment devices (e.g. IPODS) with ear pieces cannot be used while using machine tools and welding equipment.
Lathe chucks must be changed under direct supervision of EFL staff.
Machine tools and hand tools that are unsafe should not be used, and should be reported immediately to an EFL staff member. Red “Out of Service” tags should be attached to a machine tool or hand tool that needs repair. EFL staff will then lock the machine out until repairs can be made.
Electrical panels must be kept clear of obstructions so that emergency personnel can access if needed.
All machines and the surrounding work area must be cleaned and wiped down after use, including sweeping the floor.
Injuries, no matter how small, must be reported to the EFL Manager immediately. Anyone who is injured, other than small superficial cuts and abrasions, must be seen by a medical professional as soon as possible. The medical professionals are located as follows:
Students in classes held in EFL Facilities
- Non-emergencies: Cowell Student Health Center
- Emergencies: Sutter Davis Hospital, located at 2000 Sutter Place in Davis (Covell Blvd, cross Hwy 113, turn right at Riesling Court)
EFL Staff (including Student Assistants) during Normal Work Hours
- Non-emergencies: Employee Health, located at 501 Oak Avenue(off-campus)
- Emergencies: Sutter Davis Hospital, located at 2000 Sutter Place in Davis (Covell Blvd, cross Hwy 113, turn right at Riesling Court)
After Hours Care
- Sutter Davis Hospital, located at 2000 Sutter Place in Davis (Covell Blvd, cross Hwy 113, turn right at Riesling Court)
Call 911 from any campus phone for emergency care and transport to Sutter Davis Hospital. Cell phones must use (530) 752-1234 to contact emergency services.
In the event of fire or building evacuation, everyone must leave the shop areas immediately. People in EFL facilities should assemble in front of the Craft Center located on the south side of the Silo.