AHG Wood Shop Protocol — Rules and Guidelines

Basics

• Understand your approach, technique, or operation before you begin. Know what you are doing before you start doing it. Think-through your motions before beginning a process. Never use a machine you have not been properly trained to use, or feel uncertain about the correct function.

• Don’t be afraid to ask for help! This is a space to learn. Shop users come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. You can always ask lab staff for assistance.

Personal Protective Equipment / Dress Code

• Wear personal protective equipment (PPE). Safety glasses and ear protection (plugs and over-hear muffs) are required when machines are in use. Dust masks are recommended and provided in the shop, but not required. Safety glasses must be used in combination with a face shield.

• No loose clothing or accessories in the lab. Please remove all accessories before working—this includes rings, necklaces, bracelets, watches, scarves.

• Secure long hair, including beards.

• Sturdy footwear is recommended. Open-toed shoes are not permitted.

• Headphones are permitted, as long as someone is able to get your attention. Cords are a hazard and should be tucked inside clothing or otherwise secured.

Space Usage

• The shop is only open when a lab staff member is present. If a staff member must leave the shop temporarily, they will ask users to pause operations.

• Leave lab tools and materials in the lab—usage elsewhere must be approved by a staff member and a check-out form must be completed.

• Be aware of the space you occupy in the shop. Keep walkways, aisles, exits, and access points to emergency equipment clear. Be aware of how dust and debris is projecting.

• No horseplay or behavior that could be distracting or endangering to yourself or other lab users.

• Only three users are permitted to utilize shop machines at one time. Further restrictions may be necessary depending on the current machine usage.

• Projects and materials cannot be left unattended or stored in the shop.

Machine Usage

• Always make sure the dust collection system is running and the gate flowing to the current machine is open.

• Never work if you are tired or under any impairment such as drugs or alcohol.
  
  

• Never work alone—if a lab staff member is not present, usage of equipment is not permitted.

• Never change or remove guards or safety fixtures on equipment. Do not open any machine housings or make unapproved adjustments to machine settings.

• Never leave a machine on while unattended.

• Never use damaged or malfunctioning equipment.

• Clean up before and after use of a machine—clear all dust and debris, whether or not you are the generator.

• Never talk to or touch a machine operator— wait until they have completed their task.

• Never use a machine that appears to not be operating properly—report any machine problems, near misses, or injuries to lab staff immediately.Tool Usage_The dangers of hand tools are often under-estimated.
  
  

• Use the right tool for the job—i.e. a wrench is not a hammer.

• Secure the workpiece! When in doubt, use a clamp. Keep hands safely out of the way.

• Always cut away from the body and consider the “line-of-fire” of a tool or machine, being utilized by you and by those around you. Consider the location of others in the shop when choosing an approach._Do not use a tool that appears dull or not in working condition.

• Always return tools to their original home when finished.

Material Usage

• Get verbal approval from a staff member to use an unusual material in the shop (anything other than solid wood, plywood, or MDF).

• Check material for screws or embedded objects—reclaimed wood must be approved by a staff member.

• Pressure-treated wood, metal-embedded wood are not permitted. Urea-formaldehyde MDF is not recommended and must be approved by a staff member prior to use. Please discuss any questions or uncertainties about materials with a staff member.

updated January 2026