NSW Department of Education and Communities

Specific teacher question:  I would like to make some model rockets in stage 5 Industrial Technology Engineering next year. I would like to use rocket development software, Rocksim, to design rockets and then build them. Advice in Chemical safety in schools states that students cannot build there own rockets. What about assembling a rocket of their own design using pre manufactured tubing, fins and nose-cones?

Rockism allows you to design a rocket using standard sized tubing that manufacturers use to make their kits.

This would be a lot more flexible and rewarding for kids than simply assembling a kit.

Answer:The advice and guidelines in Chemical Safety in Schools and the rules are unambiguous.  They quite clearly prohibit schools from designing and building their own rockets and only endorse schools being allowed to build kit rockets from reputable manufacturers and up to a specified level of Newton seconds.

If the teacher and students assembled a rocket of their own design using pre manufactured tubing, fins and nose-cones, then their assembled rocket would:

1. Not have been constructed from a reputable manufacturers kit.
2. Not come with detailed instructions and safety information, as required.
3. Would not have a code of conduct/safety code/list of regulations supplied from a reputable rocket kit supplier.
4. The supplier would not have a signed copy from the purchaser of 3 (above) for supplying the school with a reputable rocket kit.
5. The purchaser (school) would not have their own copy of 3 (above). 

Some points that stand out in the Chemical Safety in Schools rules/advice: 

1. Teachers and students must not make their own rockets or engines.
2. Use only rockets and engines obtained from reputable suppliers.
3. Only commercially manufactured engines are permitted.
4. Do not modify the commercially made engine in any way.
5. Students may assemble, but not alter the design of the rocket.

Consider other rocket systems for use with students such as commercially available compressed air powered rockets, many of which are suitable for the intended educational purpose.

The OHS view on the above model rocketry rules/guidelines from Chemical Safety in Schools is that they are unequivocal and not open to any misinterpretation.  

Yes, but the item must not be powered, or sold.

Advice from the DET Legal branch and DET OHS Directorate is that the risks attached to such items increase substantially if these items are powered. Therefore, whilst they can be made, they are not to be powered. Students are to be instructed that if they take the item home they are not suitable for powering.

Powering refers to internal combustion and electric power.

If items are sold, or given away by the school, Section 11 of the OHS Act may apply. This section of the Act outlines the duties of designers, manufacturers and suppliers of plant and substances for use at work and includes significant penalties for breaches could apply to the individual teachers, Principal, School and the Department

These types of items should not be used at all unless teachers judge that the welding, and construction is of sufficient standard. The device should be designed by a competent person or organisation and every effort should be taken to follow the specifications of the designer.

Source: Advice to Senior Curriculum Advisor, Technology, Curriculum Support Directorate from DET Legal branch and DET OHS Directorate.

Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 No. 40, Part 2, Division 1, sections 11 and 12, pages 8-9.

There are no official notices from the DET or BOS related to constructing ladders, however if items are sold or given away by the school, Section 11 of the OHS Act* may apply. This section of the Act outlines the duties of designers, manufacturers and suppliers of plant and substances for use at work and includes significant penalties for breaches. This could apply to the individual teachers, Principal, School and the Department. In the absence of formal advice and after some discussion with a number of experienced teachers and DET personnel the Technology unit recommends the following advice for the construction of ladders in schools: Students should:

• design and construct step ladders that are no more than 1.0 metre high
• research the current standards for commercially produced ladders and use this information to guide the selection of materials and the design
• use appropriate hinges or fixed base designs to improve stability
• label the completed ladder with Safe Working Load (SWL) information. The decision on whether students can construct ladders should be made locally by the school, incorporating appropriate risk assessments. Poorly constructed ladders made by students should not be permitted to leave the school.

* Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 No. 40, Part 2, Division 1, sections 11 and 12, pages 8-9.