Safety in the Classroom

Safety Concepts

• Safety: The state of being free from danger, risk, or injury.
• Accident: An unintentional event that results in injury or property damage.
• First Aid: Immediate care provided to a victim of an accident or sudden illness until professional medical help is available.

Hazards and Safety Protocols

• Hazard: A potential source of danger within any environment.
• Material Safety Data Sheet (M.S.D.S.): A document detailing information and procedures for handling chemicals.
• Personal Protective Equipment (P.P.E.): Specialized clothing or gear worn to protect against health and safety risks.

School and Instructor Responsibilities

• Safety Responsibilities of Schools: Ensure adequate facilities, proper equipment, optimal lighting, and temperature control for safety.
• Safety Responsibilities of Instructors: Offer organized instructional programs, assign cleanup tasks, teach equipment safety, develop emergency plans, and establish an accident reporting system.

Student Responsibilities

• Safety Responsibilities of Students: Maintain a clean work area, report hazards, use equipment correctly, and practice safe behavior.

Classroom Environment & Equipment Hazards

• Classroom Environment Hazards: Little space between aisles, poor lighting, overcrowded conditions, insufficient storage, and ineffective maintenance practices.
• Classroom Equipment Hazards: Sharp corners on furniture, misuse of reproduction equipment, dangers from electrical tools, and risks from paper-cutting devices.

Clean and Orderly Classroom

• Reasons for a Clean Drafting Classroom: To maintain the safest working conditions and replicate industry-standard environments.
• Steps to Maintain Cleanliness: Arrange desks for safety and ease, store materials securely, keep workspaces clear, clean floors regularly, ensure availability of cleaning supplies, and establish cleanup procedures.

Electrical Safety Hazards

• Potential Electrical Hazards: Risks include electrical shock, equipment damage, fire, hospitalization, and even death.
• Common Causes of Electrical Accidents: Carelessness, inadequate maintenance, and improper grounding of equipment.

Electrical Tool Safety

• Safety Rules for Electrical Tools: Use three-wire grounded equipment, never remove ground prongs, select appropriate cord sizes, avoid frayed cords, and stand on dry, non-conductive surfaces.

Fire Classifications

• Classes of Fires:
  • Class A: Fires in ordinary combustibles (e.g., paper, wood).
  • Class B: Fires involving flammable liquids (e.g., gasoline).
  • Class C: Fires near electrical equipment (e.g., motors, switchboards).
  • Class D: Fires with combustible metals (e.g., magnesium).

Fire Triangle

• Components of Fire: Fire requires fuel (combustible material), heat (to reach ignition), and oxygen (to sustain combustion).