General Health & Safety in Engineering Workshop

As well as the rules to be followed when working with tools and machines, there are some general health & safety procedures to follow in a workshop. A typical engineering workshop would be filled with all the machines, tools, a number of warning signs, students working around etc. So it is very important to understand what are the risks involved in working inside a workshop, what is the meaning of different warning signs, where are the emergency exits in case if something went wrong and how can the injuries be avoided. The biggest hazard in a typical engineering workshop is the students themselves. It is very important to fully concentrate on the job they are doing and assess how safe they can do it. Students who are messing around in workshop by merely talking to others, doing some other activities put risks not only to their lives but to their friends’ as well. That must be stopped. You must listen to the teachers and you must understand that this is not a child’s play, this is the serious thing. Control yourself and concentrate on what you are doing. Also care and consideration should be considered when working with tools. When chiselling, the chisel should be positioned within the palm so that it will not slip while working. It can injure you if it slips. When working with drills, all the safety procedures must be followed. The metal piece you are working on must be securely held in a clamp, otherwise the fast rotating drill will cause the metal piece to slip and fly out, injuring the people around. Always wear safety goggles when working with the drills. Small safety practices can prevent the risk of injuries by a huge amount.



Always remember in mind that each area of workshop has a risk attached to it. An important thing to do after using the drills is Cleaning. Drilling a metal piece will result in small metal bits lying around the drills. So after drilling, you must clean the area and all the small bits and pieces must be binned. No debris should be left around in the workshop. Workshop are must always be clean. A safe and clean environment is essential when working. Before starting each work, the teachers will give a brief introduction about the topic and they will clearly state how this work would have to be done, what tools you need to do it and the importance of this work. Listen carefully before jumping to start work. Listening is a major key in attaining knowledge. You wont always understand fully on the first time. Doubts can be there. It is most important that you must ask teachers these doubts and clear them. Keeping the doubts in mind and starting the work will never help you at all. All doubts must be cleared. Before starting any work on the workshop, it is advised to apply the safety cream on hands. Since most of the times you will be working with metal pieces and tools, make sure you are safe from any skin problems caused by these. After finishing working on the workshop, wash your hands thoroughly. Cleanliness is another important thing in workshop. Remove all the debris on the floor after working. Work as a team and concentrate as an individual. Always make sure you are well aware of the different safety features installed in the workshop. The emergency exits in case of a fire warning, the emergency stop button on the drills, the place to put back all the tools etc.