Safety Protocols

Safety in the Engineering Student Design Center  (ESDC) is a top priority for our staff, our visitors, and our students. The ESDC’s complete safety policy and procedures can be found on the Documents page. Below is a brief overview of the ESDC’s dress code and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) requirements. 

Visitors

Visitors to the ESDC Machine Shop are always welcome. A visitor is a person who does not intend to use any shop equipment or hand tools, but must be in the ESDC facilities for a short period of time (15 minutes max). The pathway between the yellow lines painted on the area floors keeps visitors who are not wearing long pants and closed toed shoes away from machining, fabrication, and welding areas. ESDC staff must escort visitors around the shop area when moving outside the aisles marked by yellow lines if the visitors are not wearing long pants and closed toed shoes.

The Student Machine Shop Golden Rules

• Safety glasses must be worn AT ALL TIMES in all areas of the ESDC. No exceptions.
• Only closed-toed shoes which cover the entire foot may be worn. No sandals, flip-flops, or ballet flats.
• Long pants are required. No exposed ankles. Please avoid jeggings/leggings or pajama-like material. Jeans or denim are preferred.
• Long hair must be tied up. Long sleeves must be rolled up.
• No loose clothing. No dangling jewelry. No dangling hoodie strings. No watches. Please remove them or tie them up.

Safety Glasses

Eye protection that meets the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z-87+ standard must be worn at all times while in the ESDC, except for offices, the restroom, and the washroom. Users of these facilities must purchase their own safety glasses. For people who wear corrective glasses, eye protection must be of the type that can be worn over glasses. Prescription-ground safety lenses may be substituted if they provide equivalent protection and if side shields are firmly attached to the glasses frame.

Closed-toed shoes

Full-coverage, closed-toe shoes must be worn when in the machine shop. The entire foot must be covered. Thin fabric shoes or ballet flats are not acceptable for working with any machine tool or equipment, hand tool, sheet metal or metal scrap, and welding equipment.

Long Pants

Long pants must be worn when working with any machines, tools or equipment, sheet metal or metal scraps or while staying in the machine shop for extended periods of time. No exposed ankles. Chips can easily enter shoes or cut the exposed skin.

Tied back hair. Rolled up sleeves

Long hair must be tied back or covered by a cap while operating machinery. Loose hair and long sleeves can become easily entangled in rotating machinery.

No loose clothing. No jewelry. No dangling hoodie strings.

Ties, rings, watches, bracelets, unbuttoned long sleeves, dresses, or other loose clothing cannot be worn while operating machinery. Tuck in, roll up, or remove any offending articles of clothing. Gloves must not be worn when operating any rotating machinery. However, gloves are recommended for handling sheet metal and sharp tools.