Thread: Workshop Safety within clubs

Originally Posted by artme

I have been critical of safety aspects at our club for some time, but to broach the subject is tantamount to sacrilege. Even if the subject of insurance risks is mentioned there is an air of nonchalance.

There is no formal training in place and some very dogmatic opinions about issues concerning safety and training. One can be an experienced user of all sorts of things but if the clique decides you are not going to use something, then you won't.

How all these problems can be overcome is a moot point. Perhaps the safety police need to be called in.

Seems this can be the case in any situation/club where the committee decides machines/bits n bobs are required procured/purchased for the members benefit from funds raised by members or generous donations from well meaning business. Only then members are told sorry but your not trained/qualified to use it and the clique are the ones only who get the benefit.

Safety procedures are needed in place I agree but how does Workcover come into a club situation its not work its supposed to be there for members enjoyment, stress relief.

I do voluntary work at a mens shed that is set up to help men with disabilities (either physical or mental problems). The safety procedures are as follows :

1. To be allowed to use any machginery you must be authorized to do so by the paid staff, normally after a safety induction session which is one on one.

2. If there is any problem or accident (including a kickback on the saws) with a machine a safety tag must be attached to that machine. That tag can only be removed by paid staff and whilst the tag is there that machine cannot be used.

3. Every body is responsible for everyones safety. That means that if you see something unsafe call attention to that and stop that procedure.

4. Eyesight protection must be used on and hearing protection is advised with all saws.

This works without being onerous and we have an excellent safety record.


Peter.

I suspect if a situation arose where a club was sued by an injured person that unless the operation / maintainence training etc of tools and machinery met workcover standards then the club will lose the legal action. And this is proper, why should club members and volunteers be expected to do things without the level of safety that every australian worker is entitled to get.

If I was in your situation Artme just make sure your concerns are properly minuted, then say no more, if you keep raising the subject you'll end up being tagged a troublemaker.

All comments about my comments are very pertinent.

I don't actually advocate the WPH&S departments having oversight. They are, however the ones with the expertise and their guidance would prove to be most useful. Perhaps the training of some club members at WH&S courses could be the way to go.

I fear for the day that some new member arrives at a club, is given no induction and is seriously injured. The club, I believe, would cease to exist and that would be a sad outcome.

The problem of club politics will always remain. Doing something about true safety measures should not be compromised by this.

star,
nom de plume translates to "pen name" hope you approve of my answering your question, I am not a smart ask but I do like to help.
witch1

From what I can see looking at the Men's Shed Australia web site that Men's Sheds are self run businesses, as such would then be subject to the relative States OHS Laws.
This would mean that they have a OHS Committee, Induction Policy, Work Method Statements etc for the Members and if they have paid Employees it would be manditory.
In setting up these Policies and Practices advice could be sought from associations like Safety Institue of Australia where their members have wrote and implimented OHS Systems and Proceedures.
The Machinery and Equipment bought or donated would also need to comply with Standards like AS4024.1-2006 Safety of Machinery.
I understand that the aim of Men's Sheds is a place to meet and share ones experiances and expertize but you need to look at the legal aspects if some one is injured and who the Regulatory Authorities is going to prosecute.

Regards,
Keith.

Many thanks for all of the replies.
We currently have training for each machine in the workshop. Members are only required to do the training on the machines they are going to use. We have a chart on the wall indicating who is able to use each machine.

Although technically everyone does the training (for the relevant machine's), people who come from the industry and have the experience have less training and are included on the list. The experienced people train the others.
We also keep an eye out for everyone. If it is noticed that someone is not working safe we let them know (e.g. not using a push stick). If they fail to take action we ban them from the workshop. In saying this, we have never had to take this action. I prefer this approach if it means we don't lose fingers or eyes etc.
If any of us can stop our buddies from having an accident it obviously helps them but it also reduces the possibility of an insurance claim which keeps our premiums lower.
I also believe that workcover in Vic is not relevant to clubs, it is only for employers.

We also include safety items in our newsletter and as an agenda item at our general meetings. If members don't like our approach to safety, I don't mind if they leave the club. One members wife has told him, he is not to use the lathe without his mask after he recently had a minor mishap that could have been a lot worse.

We are also putting together a safety manual for the club, with all safety material and operating procedures in one spot. The safety check lists are also placed above each machine. If other clubs would like a copy when it is complete, please send me a PM. I was expecting a lot of responses to my original message and would have included these items in my manual.

Because of the number of people within the club and the vast range of experience levels, we sometimes see people using the wrong machine for their task. Table saw instead of Bandsaw etc.

P.s. I was intrigued recently by a person responding to another thread complaining about the cost of protective overglasses ($12 I think). I did not respond but felt like saying. Are your eyes worth $12 to you.

Originally Posted by witch1

star,
nom de plume translates to "pen name" hope you approve of my answering your question, I am not a smart ask but I do like to help.
witch1

Thanks for that. I was unsure of that word.

Peter

Safety induction should be a significant issue for and such club.....the legal consequences of not having some sort of safety induction in this day and age are just mind boggling.

The problem with all these "old guys that know what they are doing" is that a great many of them have safey expectations that are well out of date and possibly dangerous..... some of them just wont be told......if they wont be told... sorry you cant afford to have them arround.

If you go into any modern and informed work place every body gets the same induction.... because you simply CAN NOT ASSUME that they know the correct safety procedures.

I wold go further.....I would say that the training has to be done by sombody that has been externaly certified as competent to deliver the training.
Otherwise it is legaly not worth a cracker.

I have seen and heard of people giving training in such situations who are obvioulsy not properly informed and certainly not externaly certified.
In these situations people who are training have done and shown procedusre or methods that are plainly wrong and or dangerous.

This whole public and personal liability thing could easily break woodworking clubs just like it has broken horse riding clubs.

What is needed is some sort of combined approach and a standarised package for woodworking clubs.

Just think......if such happens... will the insurance company pay out.....if they pay out who are they going to try and recover their costs from.

If you are the trainer and have given incorrect information that resulted in a claim they are very likly to come looking for YOU.

So make sure whatever you do is RIGHT.

cheers