The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 20% of all workplace fatalities are in construction. Therefore it is imperative for students and practitioners in this field to always keep safety foremost in mind. The University and our program have several rules and procedures in place to ensure a safe environment at UMass. Below are the details…

Learn More About Safety

All students and faculty must read over the safety and building maintenance guidelines included below and follow them. It is also recommended for everyone to acquire the three personal items shown on the right and have them available for labs, site visits etc.

Students who are interested in acquiring the OSHA-10 (or -30) license are recommend to sign up for our 1-credit safety class that is offered each spring term.

Design Building Safety Guidelines

(Updated: 10/22/2017)

1) NO POWER TOOLS (I.E. POWER SAWS, DRILLS OR DRIVERS, DREMELS, SANDERS, ETC.) ARE TO BE USED OR STORED IN THE STUDIOS OR ELSEWHERE IN THE BUILDING EXCEPT IN THE SHOP/ASSEMBLY AREAS ON THE FIRST FLOOR. UNAUTHORIZED TOOLS THAT REMAIN WILL BE REMOVED. EQUIPMENT IN THE SHOP/ASSEMBLY AREAS ARE FURTHERMORE RESTRICTED TO SHOP-PROVIDED TOOLS, TO BE USED WITH APPROPRIATE TRAINING AND SUPERVISION.

2) HAND TOOLS AND KNIVES MAY BE USED IN THE STUDIO, BUT PRECAUTIONS MUST BE TAKEN TO PREVENT INJURY TO PEOPLE AND/OR DAMAGE TO THE SPACE OR FURNITURE (STUDENTS WHO DAMAGE TABLETOPS WILL BE REQUIRED TO REPAIR THEM UNDER SUPERVISION BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR).

3) NO ONE IS TO STAND ON FURNITURE TO HANG WORK,ETC.– WHEN NEEDED, OBTAIN LADDERS FROM THE WOOD SHOP AND USE IN A SAFE MANNER (WE WILL BE LOOKING INTO PROVIDING ADDITIONAL STEP LADDERS FOR STUDIOS).

4) SPRAYING OF ALL AEROSOLS (PAINTS, SEALERS, ADHESIVES, ETC.) IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED BOTH INSIDE AND AROUND THE PREMISES OF THE BUILDING INCLUDING ON THE PAVEMENT AND LANDSCAPING.  THE SPRAY BOOTH IN THE SHOP AREA MAY BE USED FOR WATER-BASED SPRAY PAINTS—MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHOULD PROVIDED FOR REVIEW WITH SHOP COORDINATOR.

5) WHEN DOING AN MESSY WORK ANYWHERE IN THE BUILDING, MAKE SURE TO USE NEWSPAPERS, TARPS, ETC. TO PROTECT BUILDING SURFACES.  WHEN FINISHED, CLEAN UP COMPLETELY AFTER YOURSELF AND DISPOSE OF WASTE IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER.  ALERT STAFF IF YOU HAVE WASTE REMOVAL NEEDS THAT YOU ARE NOT SURE HOW TO HANDLE.  NEVER PUT MATERIALS THAT MAY HARDEN (I.E. CONCRETE, EPOXIES) DOWN THE DRAINS!!

6) IN THE STUDIOS, EXTRA MATERIALS SHOULD BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM, BE STORED SAFELY AND CONSIDERATELY, AND REMOVED IN A TIMELY MANNER. ANY VOLATILE OR OTHERWISE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED. ALSO BE WARY OF ODORS AND POTENTIAL ALLERGENS, AS WELL AS NOISE POTENTIAL.  NO MATERIALS OR PROJECTS WILL BE STORED IN ANCILLARY SPACES UNLESS EXPRESSLY APPROVED FOR SHORT-TERM STORAGE BY FACULTY OR STAFF.

7) FACULTY MUST REVIEW AVAILABLE MATERIAL SAFETY DATA FOR ALL MATERIALS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR TEACHING ASSIGNMENTS.  A MSDS (MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET) FOR EACH MATERIAL WILL BE SUBMITTED TO AND REVIEWED WITH, THE SHOP COORDINATOR, SUCH THAT PROTOCOLS ARE ESTABLISHED PRIOR TO STARTING THE PROJECT.  THE FACULTY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAINING TA’S, MONITORS AND STUDENTS APPROPRIATELY, AND PROVIDE ADEQUATE SUPERVISION FOR THE DURATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT.  MATERIALS CONSIDERED OVERLY HAZARDOUS OR ONEROUS MAY NEED TO BE RECONSIDERED.

8) FACULTY AND STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS MUST MAINTAIN MSDA RECORDS AND FOLLOW ALL MSDS AND SHOP SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

9) INDIVIDUALLY-OWNED GOGGLES, MASKS, EAR PROTECTION, ETC. WILL BE REQUIRED GEAR FOR SHOP/LAB ASSEMBLY AREAS MOVING FORWARD–WE WILL ANNOUNCE SPECIFICATIONS SHORTLY, BUT IN THE MEANTIME YOU MAY WANT TO PURCHASE BASIC ITEMS YOURSELF.

10) PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR SHOULD ALWAYS BE WORN WHEN DOING ANY KIND OF FABRICATION WORK IN THE STUDIO, AND AT ALL TIMES IN THE SHOP AREAS.

11) MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT IN DB 120 (THE RESEARCH LAB) AND IN THE ASSOCIATED COVERED OUTDOOR STORAGE AREA ARE COMPONENTS OF ONGOING RESEARCH AND TESTING, AND SHOULD NEVER BE TOUCHED OR USED IN ANY WAY WITHOUT THE EXPRESS APPROVAL OF THE ASSOCIATED RESEARCHER.

12) WE ARE EAGER FOR INFORMATION AND FEEDBACK AS WE MOVE FORWARD, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DEPARTMENTAL SHOP REP WITH QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS.

 

DESIGN BUILDING SHOP COMMITTEE:

ARCHITECTURE: RAY K MANN ()
BCT: ALEX SCHREYER ()
LARP: MICHAEL DAVIDSOHN ()
SHOP COORDINATOR PETER CHRZANOWLSKI ()

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