2052 Safety Manual
General
Culture of Safety
Instilling a culture of safety is a value that every individual in the FIRST® community must embrace as we pursue the mission and vision of FIRST. Safety is a vital part of the FIRST culture, with a framework for safety leadership established in all aspects of the programs. FIRST believes that teams that take the lead in developing safety programs and policies have a positive and lasting impact on each team member and mentor, in addition to their communities and present and future workplaces. FIRST recognizes the teams that demonstrate safety throughout their programs and are truly committed to developing a culture of safety.
Scope
This safety manual is an easy-to-use guide for important safety information and provides students with a basic set of requirements to maintain a safe environment during the build season and at competition events. It applies to anyone involved with FIRST including all student team members, mentors, volunteers, and spectators
Participant Responsibilities
All Participants
- Be familiar with this manual and understand and follow established safety requirements applicable to your environment
- Work in a safe and responsible manner
- Use personal protective equipment (PPE), safeguards, and other safety equipment as required.
- Identify and report any unsafe or hazardous conditions to a mentor. This includes work practices that may cause an accident.
- Encourage safe behaviors in everyone around you
Mentors
- Lead by example. Practice the same safety behaviors that are expected from the students
- Provide guidance and encouragement in a safe working environment.
- Provide leadership and guidance on matters of general safety, including the use of personal protective equipment, including during the lifting, handling, and transportation of robots as detailed in this manual in team work spaces as well as at events.
- Encourage communication about safety needs and support students who request accommodation. Utilize hazard-based safety engineering principles with team members to eliminate or minimize identified hazards to a suitable level.
- Collect and store Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) or Material Safety Data Sheets for any chemicals, chemical compounds, or chemical mixtures (e.g., in paint and batteries) used by the team. SDS information may include instructions for safe use and potential hazards associated with a particular material or product.
- Ensure YPP Guidelines are met when interacting with students
Student Leaders
- Implement and enforce safety guidelines as they deem necessary
- Escalate safety issues to mentors
General Safety Requirements
Electrical Safety
- Disconnect the electric power source.
- Best Practice: Always de-energize the robot before working on it by opening the main circuit breaker (“re-set” lever is released) and unplugging batteries
- Inspect your equipment cords and extension cords routinely to ensure they are in good condition
Pneumatic Safety
- Always vent any compressed air to the atmosphere (this applies to all parts of the pneumatic
- Open the main vent valve and verify that all pressure gauges on the robot indicate zero pressure.
Chemical Safety
- Keep and store chemical containers in suitable condition
- Follow SDS procedures when using a chemical
- Make sure all chemical containers have labels placed by the manufacturer
- If you are exposed to a chemical, notify a student lead and mentor immediately and consult the SDS if necessary.
- Follow SDS procedures when cleaning up a chemical spill
- See Section 4.3 for battery clean up
Tool Safety
- Always use the proper tool for the job.
- Before using any tool, check to see if it is in good condition. Don’t use defective, dull, or broken tools. If a tool is not in good condition, don’t put it back on the shelf; remove it from service and notify a mentor so the tool can be replaced or sent for repair.
- When using a tool, place the work on a bench or hard surface rather than in your hand or near an active robot
- When using knives/blades, direct your cutting strokes away from your hand and body and be aware of those around you
- Tools are not toys. Using tools in an inappropriate manner may result in disciplinary actions
- Return tools to their designated storage location when not in use
- Students must undergo proper training to use power tools
- When servicing a tool (changing a blade, refilling staples, changing rivet dies, etc) make sure the battery is removed or the cord unplugged when applicable.
Battery Handling
Charging
- Keep the battery charging area clean and orderly.
- Place your battery charger in an area where air can freely circulate around the charger. Battery chargers can fail without proper ventilation.
- Do not short out the battery terminals. If metal tools/parts contact the terminals simultaneously, it will create a direct short circuit. This may cause high heat to develop in the battery terminal/part/tool area and the battery could explode. To avoid the possibility of shorting out the battery terminals and creating a hazardous situation, it is required to cover all exposed battery terminals and connections with appropriate insulating material such as electrical tape or tubing.
- Do not charge a battery at greater than the manufacturer’s maximum recommended rate.
- Never attempt to disassemble batteries or battery housing, which could cause accidental puncture.
- Never use tools to remove a stuck battery, as they may puncture the battery.
General Battery Information
- Any battery that is visibly damaged in any way is dangerous and unusable
- Periodically inspect your battery for any evidence of damage, such as a cracked case or leaking electrolyte
- Periodically check the battery’s Internal resistance, State of charge (SOC), and battery health using a battery beak
- Always lift batteries with two hands. Never hold a battery by the leads
Procedure for Handling a Leaking Lead Acid Battery
- Put on chemical splash goggles and chemical resistant gloves before handling the battery.
-
Neutralize it by pouring sodium bicarbonate on all wetted surfaces. The sodium
bicarbonate itself is not dangerous and will react with the acid in the electrolyte, leaving a harmless residue that can be disposed of in a conventional manner such as rinsing with water.
- Follow emergency handling instructions of the SDS and notify a mentor.
- Place the battery in a leak-proof container for removal.
- Be sure to neutralize any acid on the gloves before removing and storing them.
- Properly dispose of the battery, which is now a hazardous material.
- Most retailers of automotive batteries will accept and properly dispose of them at no cost
Battery Leak Kit Contents
- Container large enough to hold am FRC battery that can be sealed
- Baking Soda
- Chemical Splash Goggles
- Chemical Resistant Gloves
Procedure for Handling a Damaged Lithium Ion Battery
- A bulging or damaged Lithium Ion Battery is extremely dangerous. Notify a mentor immediately if a damaged Lithium Ion Battery is found
- Contact the battery’s manufacturer for specific handling and disposal instructions
Safety Assets
First Aid Kit
- The First Aid Kit is hanging on the side of the black tool chest
- The contents of the team first aid kit should be periodically reviewed and restocked by mentors and student leaders
Fire Extinguisher
- The Fire Extinguisher is located on the back of the battery cart
- Notify a mentor immediately if a fire extinguisher is used
- Ensure the fire extinguisher is properly maintained
Automatic Electronic Defibrillator (AED)
- The AEDs are located across from the wood shop entrance and across from the downstairs varsity gym entrance. There are also AEDs near door 1 and 5 upstairs.
- Notify a mentor immediately if the AED needs to be used
PPE
General PPE Information
- The proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is an important element in helping to protect FIRST participants from hazards in the work area. The following describes the common PPE that you are required to wear as part of constructing, using, maintaining, and transporting a robot. All PPE must be ANSI-approved, UL Listed, CE EN166-rated, AS/NZS-certified or CSA-rated, as applicable.
Eye Protection
- Wear Eye Protection when working with power tools, robots, risk of exposure to flying particles or chemical exposure
- Chemical splash goggles should be worn when working with chemicals
- Eye Protection must be worn in the pits, practice field and competition field at events.
- Use proper cleaning products when cleaning safety glasses
- Student safety glasses are located in their assigned pouch located on the shop door
- If you wear prescription glasses that do not have a marked safety rating, then you must wear rated side shields/safety goggles over them to achieve adequate protection.
Hand Protection
- Chemical resistant gloves should be worn when working with chemicals
- Hand protection should not be used when equipment such as band saws and drill presses because gloves can be accidentally drawn into the rotating machinery of the equipment
Hearing Protection
- Wear hearing protection when using tools or equipment that are at 85 decibels or above
- Make hearing protection readily available at events
Foot protection
- Shoes worn at events and in the team workspace must be closed toe and closed heel
- Shoe laces must be tied at all times
Robot Lifting and Transporting
Robot Carts
- Robot Cart must not be overloaded, pushed quickly, or ridden
Robot Lifting
- Ensure that all transporters wear appropriate PPE
- Make sure the robot is safe to move:
- Are all parts of the robot secured?
- Is the robot powered off?
- Is anyone still working on the robot?
- Are there enough people to perform the lift safely?
- Two to Four People are Preferred
- Before lifting, hold a short discussion to determine the direction and path you will be lifting.
- Ensure that the areas and paths are clear of debris and hazards.
- Each lifter should place his/her feet close to the robot and adopt a balanced position.
- All persons should lift at the same time using proper body mechanics. These include:
- Lift with your legs, keeping your back straight.
- Do not twist your body: use your feet to turn your entire frame if you need to turn.
- Use proper hand holds to grasp the robot and make sure you have a safe, secure lift point before starting the lift.
- Bend your knees to a comfortable degree and get a good handhold. Maintain normal spinal curves.
- Tighten your stomach muscles and commence lifting the robot, using your leg muscles if you are lifting the robot up from the floor.
- Keep the robot close to your body and coordinate lift speed with the others.
Workspace Safety
General Safety Practices
- Follow safe work practices, including safe use of all tools and personal protective equipment (safety glasses, shoes, gloves, hearing protection, etc.).
- Maintain a healthy attitude regarding safety
- Always walk and work in a controlled and thoughtful manner. Keep full control of the robot at all times.
- Be especially careful around high-speed rotating components, both on and off the robot. If you are putting a high-speed rotating component on the robot, make sure the component is designed to be used the way you intend to use it.
- Take special care when working above normal height or at ground level.
- Always fully open a ladder and never stand on a non-approved step.
- Inspect all ladders before use for broken rungs, missing feet, and safety labels.
- Do not use a ladder that fails an inspection
- Be careful using tools that generate heat, such as heat guns and soldering irons. Be aware of objects that may be in the vicinity of the heat source and may catch fire. Also, be aware that these tools often retain heat after being shut off and should be set down only on appropriate surfaces.
- Do not wear jewelry and tie long hair back when using shop equipment. Ensure that shop equipment users have both the knowledge and experience to operate shop equipment safely
Safety Checks
- Are stacked items at least 18 inches below sprinkler heads?
- Are stacks stable and secure against sliding and collapse?
- Are heavy or bulky items stored below shoulder level?
- Are floors free of slipping and tripping hazards?
- Are all light fixtures functional?
- Is the illumination level sufficient for the detail of work performed?
Recycling
- Recyclable Paper Products:
- Printer and Notebook paper
- Newspapers
- Magazines
- Envelopes
- Books
- Pizza Boxes
- Cardboard
- Recyclable Plastic Products
- Cleaned plastic bottles
- All cleaned glass and aluminum products are recyclable
Competition Safety
Competition Safety
- Use the buddy system when traveling and while at the event.
- FIRST staff and volunteers are distinguished by their name badges.
- Stay aware of your surroundings.
- Always demonstrate safe behaviors, even in the heat of competition.
- Establish a planned, safe lifting procedure for the robot, including cart removal after the lift
- Make sure the robot is properly secured if you must work underneath it. Never work on the robot on an unstable surface.
- Assist and mentor other teams with safety issues.
- Tell a mentor or chaperone if you are feeling tired, sick, or unwell
- Never give personal information to anyone you meet at a competition
Pit Safety
- Bring and use work gloves for uncrating and re-crating if a crate is in use.
- Design and set up your pit station safely and use proper tools to construct any components (displays, shelves, banners, etc.).
- Use ladders; do not climb on items not meant for the task, such as tables and chairs.
- Observe the 10-foot height limit for all portions of your pit station, including banners.
- Small, bench-top band saws and drill presses, with appropriate guards, are allowed in the team pit station (this varies for FIRST Tech Challenge, depending on the venue and event)
- Properly use power strips. Do not “daisy chain” (plugging power strips into one another) or overload the rated capacity of the power strip.
- Keep the aisle immediately outside your pit station clear for pedestrians and robot transit.
- Participants and spectators should be wearing approved personal protective equipment in the pit at all times.
- Teams may not build any structure to support people or items for storage over the top of the work area in their team pit station.
- Team structures, signs, banners, or displays cannot be higher than 10 feet above the floor.
- Securely mount team pit station signs, banners, and displays.
- Be aware of your neighbors. Alert them if there is a hazard in your pit or near theirs.
- Maintain a clean, neat, and orderly pit station at all times. Before your team leaves, be sure to do the following:
- Clean the floor in and around your pit station.
- Properly store all tools.
- Properly take care of batteries and battery chargers.
- Tidily store personal belongings and equipment.
- When transporting your robot, politely keep pedestrians alert to your movement.
Youth Protection Program
The FIRST Youth Protection Program
- The purpose of the FIRST® Youth Protection Program is to provide coaches, mentors, event volunteers, employees, Program Delivery Partners, team members, parents, guardians of team members, and others working with FIRST programs with information, guidelines, and procedures to create safe environments for FIRST participants.
- The FIRST Youth Protection Program sets minimum standards recommended for all FIRST activities. Adults working in FIRST programs must be knowledgeable of the standards set by the FIRST Youth Protection Program, as well as those set by the school or organization hosting their team.
- Please contact us with any questions about Youth Protection guidelines, resources, screening or to report a concern. Youth participants are encouraged to reach out to Youth Protection for support and assistance if they have any concerns about their own safety and/or treatment or that of other participants in FIRST programs.
FIRST Code of Conduct
- The FIRST mission is to inspire a generation of science and technology leaders who are both gracious and professional. This FIRST Code of Conduct lists some of the basic behaviors mentors, coaches, volunteers, team members, affiliate partners, contractors, staff, and other participants should adhere to while participating in FIRST activities.
- Exhibit Gracious Professionalism® at all times. Gracious Professionalism is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. With Gracious Professionalism, fierce competition and mutual gain are not separate notions.
- Ensure the safety of all participants in FIRST activities.
- Not engage in any form of bullying, harassment, use of profane or insulting language, or any actual or threatened violence.
- Adhere to all FIRST Youth Protection Program (YPP) policies.
- Report any unsafe behavior to event or local FIRST leadership.
- Persons who do not comply with this Code of Conduct may be barred from participating in FIRST activity
Team Specific Guidelines
- Students shall not direct message mentors on Slack
- If a student does need to contact a mentor, then they should send a direct message addressed to two or more mentors
- Students shall not connect with mentors on social media or networking platforms such as Facebook, Discord, or LinkedIn
Appendix A: Additional Resources
https://www.epa.gov/recycle/how-do-i-recycle-common-recyclables
https://safety.fsu.edu/safety_manual/OSHA%20Glove%20Selection%20Chart.pdf
https://www.firstinspires.org/resource-library/youth-protection-policy
https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/anatomy-of-a-first-aid-kit.html