Frequently asked questions - equipment and materials
Can I modify plant and equipment that I use in my teaching?
Teachers must not intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety and welfare. Teachers should not modify equipment to meet a specific need. Original manufacturer's specifications should be maintained. Any changes to the original specifications must be made by the manufacturer.
It is an offence against the OHS Act (2000) and its relevant regulations to interfere with or misuse occupational health and safety equipment.
Source: Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000, No. 40, Part 2, Division 3, 21.
Occupational Health, Safety, & Injury Management. A Guide for the Principal or Manager. Department of Education and Training, 2000. Chapter 3.2, page 6. Chapter 3A, page 24.
Can I use a 240V soldering iron with students in years 8 or 9?
Yes, provided that the soldering iron is a commercial product and that the leads are always inspected prior to its use to ensure they are sound. They are not to be used by students at power points located near sources of water.
Hazards relating to soldering are outlined in CSIS, volume 2, section 3.3.4.2 (f) Metal joining page 32.
Source: Chemical Safety in Schools (1999). Department of Education and Training, Volume 2, section 3.3.3.8 Using electric power tools, page 11.
Can I use fibreglass in schools for FRP lay-up on small projects?
Fibreglass can only be used in schools where the relevant OHS conditions are met. Schools generally do not have the facilities for the use of fibre reinforced plastics (FRP) due to the difficulties of controlling hazards and disposing of waste. Reference should be made to the materials safety data sheet (MSDS) in relation to required personal protective equipment (PPE) and disposal methods.
School programs should not include the production of FRP unless WorkCover NSW approved control measures are implemented.
One of the greatest risks of using the FRP process with polyester resins is the use of MEKP as the catalyst (hardener). Follow this link for a MSDS sheet on MEKP
Use this link to obtain the 'Approved Code of Practice' for using synthetic mineral fibres (fibreglass).
Source: Chemical Safety in Schools (1999). Department of Education and Training, Volume 1, section 1.8.5.8, page 11. Volume 2, section 3.3.4.1(h), page23-24.
Can I use MDF (medium density fibreboard) in my classroom for making projects with students?
MDF and hardboard produce dust which is much finer and more readily dispersed than dust from solid wood, plywood or particleboard. MDF must not be machined in schools unless all occupational health and safety issues are addressed; including the use of WorkCover NSW approved extraction system. Schools generally do not have facilities to control the hazards from dust created when MDF is machined. The risks associated with the use of manufactured timber products are significant. A risk assessment must be completed for all projects involving the machining of MDF.
For further information refer to Chemical Safety in Schools - Volume 2 Section 3.3 Pages 26 & 28.
Can year 10 students use a bandsaw in Industrial Technology Wood?
Equipment safety in schools guidelines indicate that the use of bandsaws is limited to students in Year 11. Modifications to cohort usage can be made following the completion of a local risk assessment. The risk assessment is valid only for the class and the calendar year in which it was conducted.
Source: Equipment Safety in Schools. Appendix A
What guidelines exist on the use of textile tests in textile and design classes?
Guidelines on potential hazards and protective measures on the use of various textile tests are provided in the source below.
What is a Department of Education and Communities (DEC) Generic Risk Assessment?
To prevent the need for each school to carry out individual risk assessments on items of equipment that are in the school, the DEC has carried out a generic assessment of a number of items common to many schools. As well as developing risk assessment procedures DEC has defined controls for the use of equipment in schools. These controls include: "Classifying equipment on the basis of their relevant hazard," "Restricting access to some equipment," "Providing risk and safety information on over 400 items of equipment."
The relevant controls are provided in Appendix A and B of the following publication.
Source: Equipment Safety in Schools Interim advice TAS Workshops. DET Properties Directorate 2003, page 7, appendix A and B.
Chemical Safety in Schools (1999). Department of Education and Training, Volume 1, section 1.5.3, page 7.
What is a user code and how does it apply in managing safety in schools?
User Code 1: All staff in schools will have an individual user code. This code will be used to identify those staff approved to use particular equipment. This code will effectively restrict access to equipment on the basis that staff have the required level of competence to manage the risks involved in using a particular piece of equipment. This code will generally be based on the curriculum or administrative area that a person works in. The User Code 1 for teachers of technology subjects will be TAS.
User Code 2: This code relates to particular groups who may access equipment and is labelled the cohort code. All equipment in a school has been assessed and categorised according to the level of risk posed by that equipment. The category of the equipment indicates the teaching or administrative level at which the equipment can be safely used.
- Category 'X' equipment is banned from schools,
- Category 'Tch' is limited to teacher demonstration,
- Category '11,12' is restricted to year 11/12 students,
- Category '9,10' is restricted to access by students at or above years 9/10,
- Category '7,8' is restricted to access by students at or above years 7/8,
- Category '5,6' is restricted to access by students at or above years 5/6,
- Category '3,4' is restricted to access by students at or above years 3/4,
- Category '1, 2' is restricted to access by students at or above years 1/2.
Generic assessment advice for equipment used in TAS workshops is provided in the appendices of the reference below, pages 27-56.
Source: Equipment Safety in Schools - Interim advice - TAS Workshops. DET Properties Directorate, 2003, pages 10-12, 15, 19-22.
What is my responsibility with regard to guards on machinery and equipment such as portable power tools?
Various Acts and Standards require that all dangerous machinery is to be properly guarded. People get hurt because there is no guard or the guard has been removed, disabled or modified in some way.
When using machines staff must ensure that;
- no one has defeated the guard
- all materials to be used are clear of the working parts of the machine
- guards are regularly checked and maintained in good working order
- they have been trained to use the machine.
Source: Occupational Health, Safety, & Injury Management. A Guide for the Principal or Manager. Department of Education and Training, 2000. Chapter 5.5, pages 4-6. Chapter 8.10, page 13.
Chapter 5 of the OHS regulation - guarding clause 90
Australian standard AS4024.1 - 1996 Safe Guarding of Machinery Part 1: General principles.
What is risk control?
Having identified the hazards in the workplace and prioritised them in terms of severity and likelihood, it is necessary toconsider what action to take to remove or reduce the potential for an accident. This is known as risk control. For the purposes of the OH&S Regulation 2001, an obligation to control a risk to health or safety (in any case in which the elimination of the risk is not reasonably practicable) is an obligation to take the following measures (in the order specified) to minimise the risk to the lowest level reasonably practicable:
- firstly, substituting the hazard giving rise to the risk with a hazard that gives rise to a lesser risk,
- secondly, isolating the hazard from the person put at risk,
- thirdly, minimising the risk by engineering means,
- fourthly, minimising the risk by administrative means (for example, by adopting safe working practices or providing appropriate training, instruction or information),
- fifthly, using personal protective equipment.
A combination of the above measures is required to be taken to minimise the risk to the lowest level reasonably practicable if no single measure is sufficient for that purpose.
Source: Occupational Health, Safety, & Injury Management. A Guide for the Principal or Manager. Department of Education and Training, 2000, chapter 4.8, page 7.
Chemical Safety in Schools (1999). Department of Education and Training, Volume 1, section 1.5.2, pages 5-6 and section 1.6
What portable and fixed items of equipment are prohibited in schools?
A memo was sent to Principals in December 2003 outlining the changes to use of equipment in schools.
The revised list of prohibited items is now as follows:
- automotive hoist
- nail/stapling machine, nail/staple > 20mm
- automotive pit
- powered sheetmetal machines
- combination woodworking machines
- router, radial arm
- disc sander (angle grinder) > 115mm disc
- router, table (fixed)
- foundry equipment
- saw, radial arm
- grinder (fixed), fitted with wire brushes
- spindle moulder
Source: Memo to school principals 18th December 2003- DN 03/00604. Go to:
What should I do with my wood finishes after they have been used by a class?
Small quantities of lacquers, paints and thinners are to be stored in a lockable cabinet when not in use. Bulk flammable liquids, such as paints, should be stored in a flammable liquid storage cabinet. Refer to the MSDS for disposal options.
Source: Chemical Safety in Schools (1999). Department of Education and Training, Volume 2, section 3.3.2.3 Storage, page 6.
Chemical Safety in Schools (1999). Department of Education and Training, Volume 2, section 3.3.3.2, page 7.
Where can I find some advice on specific controls on the use of equipment by students? Can I use a portable power drill with year 8, or a metal bandsaw with years 9 and 10?
The DET has a risk assessment protocol which must be complied with by teaching and support staff in schools. Part of this protocol provides a list of 'Usage Controls' for specific items of equipment found in TAS workshops.
DET Usage Controls indicate that a metal bandsaw can be used by Year 10 students following the completion of a risk assessment (appendix A page 48). The usage controls document specifies those processes suitable for use by Year 10 students. You cannot use a portable power drill with years 7 or 8 (page 64). However, a battery powered drill is a suitable substitute for use by year 7 and 8 students.
DET Usage Control Advice for equipment used in TAS workshops is provided in appendix B of the reference below (pages 58-107). Source: Equipment Safety in Schools Interim advice TAS Workshops. DET Properties Directorate 2003, pages 15-16, 58-107.
Where can I find some guidelines for safety in use of hazardous processes such as welding?
The employer has the legal responsibility to identify all foreseeable hazards and to assess them for the risk posed and where ever possible eliminate them. If the risk cannot be eliminated they must be controlled.
Source:
- OHS Regulation clause 5,
- Chapter 4 of the OHS Regulations has specific guidance for work environment risks such as lighting, workspace, hot and cold environments, noise, atmospheric contaminants and working at heights etc.
- Chapter 6 and Chapter 7 of the regulations attached to the Occupational Health and Safety Act provide some guidelines for the use of hazardous substances and hazardous processes.
- Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001, Chapters 6 and 7, Pages 135-174.
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