Technology WORKERS & SAFETY

People – The Most Important Input  What would manufacturing be without people?  There would be no one to run machines or design new products.  Supplies would not be ordered.  Products would not be sold. In short, manufacturing could not be done.

People – The Most Important Input People are the most important part of manufacturing.  People make the production system work.  Manufacturing needs all kinds of people:  Short and tall;  Big and small;  Young and old;  Skilled and unskilled.  There is a place in manufacturing for everybody!

Worker Attitudes  Nothing is as important to a company as its workers.  The attitudes of workers toward their jobs and their safety are very important to the success of the company.

Worker Attitudes: Promptness  Promptness is being on time.  When work starts, the worker needs to be there.  Money is wasted and time is lost when a worker is late.  Also, the worker who is late may rush the job while trying to catch up.  Such hurrying often results in mistakes and sometimes accidents happen.

Worker Attitudes: Attendance  Workers who are ill should stay home.  However, any other reason for missing work must be a good one!  Why?

Worker Attitudes: Cooperation  Most people who lose their jobs do so because they cannot get along with fellow workers.  A worker must cooperate with fellow workers.  No one should always demand their own way.  It is also important to listen to the supervisor.  A worker must follow the supervisor’s directions carefully.

Worker Attitudes: Reliability  A reliable worker can be trusted to do a job.  Such a worker is valuable to the company.  The worker accepts responsibility.  The more responsibility a person is able to handle, the more that person will be given. By the way, this usually results in a pay raise, and/or a promotion!

Worker Attitudes: Persistence  A good worker is persistent.  This means that the worker does not give up easily.  A company needs people who will stick to difficult tasks and see their jobs through to completion.

Worker Attitudes: Patience  A good worker needs to b e patient.  It is hard to work with someone who “blows up” when things go wrong or when there is a delay. Note: A person who “blows up” frequently is also a danger to others.

Advantages of Good Attitudes  The more good attitudes a worker develops in life, the more valuable that person will be to the company or employer.  Good Attitudes help the worker:  Keep their job;  Advance to a better job; and  Contribute to a safer work place.  A person is never too young to begin developing good worker attitudes. In fact, as time goes by, work will become much easier for a young person who develops these attitudes.  Such a person will be able to deal with more and more responsibility.

People and Safety  Why is it important to think about safety? According to statistics, in the United States in one year people were injured in accidents. Some are very serious.  Most accidents happen because of carelessness.  Many accidents could be avoided if people would simply think about safety.  Accidents are not planned.  Accidents happen when we fail to take steps to avoid them.  Safety should be an important concern in each person’s life all of the time.

Safety in Manufacturing  Manufacturers have responsibilities to the people who work for them, too. Companies should provide their workers with a safe place in which to work.  Dangerous machines should have safety guards.  Special safety devices such as hard hats and safety glasses should be provided to workers.  There should be adequate lighting.  Excess noise should be controlled.

Safety in the Shop (Technology Labs)  In the shop, it is important to work safely at all times.  Many tools and machines, if not used properly and safely, can cause serious accidents.  Students need to know how to avoid safety hazards (dangerous situations) in the shop.  Learn to use each tool and machine safely before you begin to use it.

Safety in the Shop (Technology Labs)  Eyes – Wear safety eyeglasses or googles at all times in the shop, but especially for all machine operations. Safety glasses and goggles prevent chips from striking the eye. Some goggles protect the eyes from bright, damaging light.  Ears – Loud, continuous noise may damage hearing. When working under these conditions, wear ear protectors. You will be able to hear voices, but not noise.

Safety in the Shop (Technology Labs)  Hands and fingers – Keep your hands and fingers clear of all blades and cutting tools at all times. Do not wear gloves in the shop unless told to do so by the teacher.  Hair – Long hair can get caught in moving parts of machines. Tie the hair back or wear a protective hair net or cap.

Safety in the Shop (Technology Labs)  Clothing – Loose clothing, long sleeves, ties, and shirttails can get caught in machines.  Jewelry – Necklaces, bracelets, watches, and rings can get caught in machines. They should be removed before working with machines.  Mouth – Placing objects, such as nails, in the mouth is very dangerous. They can be swallowed easily.

Safety in the Shop (Technology Labs)  Back – Use caution when handling large or heavy materials. When lifting, bend your knees, not your back.  Feet – Often there are small objects and scraps on the floor. Wear shoes at all times. Sandals and open toed shoes do not protect your feet in the shop. Materials could easily fall on your feet.

General Safety Practices  Pay attention to what you are doing at all times,  “Goofing around” and throwing objects should never be done. They are dangerous things to do. They can cause serious accidents.  Report all accidents (even though minor) to the instructor immediately.

General Safety Practices: Fire Safety  In case of fire, know the location of exits and fire extinguishers.  Also be sure to know the proper type of extinguisher to use to put out a fire.  Note: the term “combustibles” means materials that can catch fire and burn.

General Safety Practices: Fire Safety  When ordinary combustibles such as paper are on fire and no electricity is involved use an extinguisher marked with an “A”. FOR ORDINARY COMBUSTIBLES Put out a Class A fire by lowering the temperature using water or water-based extinguisher. Wet fire to cool, and soak to stop smoldering. A

General Safety Practices: Fire Safety  When liquids such as gasoline or oil are burning, use an extinguisher marked with a “B”. FOR ORDINARY COMBUSTABLES Put out a Class B fire by smothering it. Use extinguisher giving a blanketing, flame interrupting effect. Cover the whole flaming liquid surface. B

General Safety Practices: Fire Safety  To put out electrical fires, use an extinguisher marked with a “C”. FOR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT When live electrical equipment ( Class C fire) is involved, always use a non-conducting extinguishing agent (not water) to avoid receiving an electrical shock. Shut off power as quickly as possible. C

General Safety Practices  Report to the teacher any tools or machines that are broken, dull, or do not work properly.  Clean up material scraps and spills immediately. Otherwise, someone may slip or trip on them.  As a protection for yourself and your classmates, report any violations of safety rules to the instructor.  To avoid making mistakes and having accidents, listen carefully to your instructor at all times.

Hand Tool Safety Practices  If the wrong tools are used, they can break or chip and cause an injury. Use the right tool for the right job.  A dull tool is a dangerous tool. Accidents are more likely to happen when you try to use a dull tool. Keep your tools sharp.  Carry sharp tools carefully, with points down. Never carry tools in your pockets.  Hold all tools and materials securely. Use vises and clamps when needed.

Machine Safety Practices  Be sure to have permission before using machines.  Only the person operating the machine is allowed inside the safety zone (this area is approximately an arm’s distance away from the machine operator).  Distracting or hurrying the people using the machines can cause them to make mistakes which could lead to serious injury.  Remove small scraps of material from a machine only after the machine has come to a complete stop.

Machine Safety Practices  Machine guards keep your fingers safe. They also protect you from material that might be thrown from the machine. Keep guards in position.  Before measuring work or adjusting the machine, make sure the machine is at a complete stop.  When in doubt about any machine operation, ask the instructor.