These safe work practices offer essential health and safety information to help prevent injuries during daily tasks and assignments. By following these guidelines, you can create a safer work environment for yourself and others in your workplace.
These safe work practices are part of the College of Marins Injury and Illness Prevention Program and are required by Cal/OSHA. Employees shall follow these safe work practices while performing work activities at all times.
You are welcome to share your ideas to enhance or refine these safe work practices.
- Proper eye protection should be worn when using or observing others who are using equipment that produces flying particles because of grinding, drilling, cutting or turning metal or wood stock in process. Additionally, all grinding and buffing equipment should be outfitted with properly adjusted tool rests, guards, and shields.
- Proper eye protection should be worn when performing welding or brazing activities.
- Compressed gas cylinders should be contained in a cart or secured by two solid metal chains installed roughly one-third and two-thirds of the way up on the cylinder so that the cylinder cannot fall or tip over.
- Hoses and gauges should be inspected regularly. Repairs should be made when faulty equipment is identified and removed from service while under repair.
- Portable oxygen/acetylene welding units should be inspected regularly and equipped with a fire extinguisher.
- General housekeeping should be maintained to keep a safe work environment. Work areas should be kept clean to reduce the number of airborne particles.
- Eating and drinking should not be allowed in art studios due to possible contamination. Food and drinks should never be stored in studios.
- All flammable materials of five gallons or over should be stored in flammable storage cabinets.
- Incompatible chemicals should not be stored in the same cabinet or in close vicinity.
- All employees should know where to find Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) which should be accessible for all chemicals being used. New or revised SDSs should be implemented as soon as received.
- When using a radial arm saw remember the following guidelines:
- The saw should not pull or extend past the worktable being used.
- There should be an automatic retracting spring or cable to return the radial arm to the rear position after it has been used.
- The blade of the saw should be covered with the exception at the work surface.
- Operations involve the lifting or moving of heavy objects. Follow basic lifting methods when lifting heavy loads. This includes:
- Assess the weight of the object and determine if you can manage it safely. If it's too heavy, ask for help or submit a worder order request online.
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Ensure stability before lifting.
- Bend your knees to lower yourself to the appropriate height. Keep your back straight.
- Lift with your legs (not your back): use the strength of your leg muscles to lift the object. Avoid straining your back.
- Hold the object close to your torso.
- Kee your back upright. Avoid leaning too forward to backward.
- Ask for help if the load is unmanageable!
- Dust collection equipment on saws and grinders should not be removed unless repair and servicing are needed.
- Fire lanes and exit doors should remain clear at all times.