Rules & Safety

First-time MShop users are required to attend a 30-minute safety orientation, and all shop users must wear proper clothing and safety equipment.

Individuals using the facilities fall into three access paths categorized as untrained, in-training, and trained, each with specific guidelines and responsibilities.

Required Safety Orientation

To schedule, e-mail mshop@dartmouth.edu

Sign-In & Sign-Out

  • Check in with the Greeter when you enter.
  • Complete the onscreen user sign-in.
  • Sign out onscreen when you leave.

Clothing & Gear

  • We supply safety glasses and hats to be worn at all times.
  • Long pants and closed-toe shoes are required.
  • Shorts, sandals, dresses, scarves, neckties, or blousy flowing attire are prohibited.
  • Long hair must be tied back to prevent entanglement with machines.
  • Additional protective gear—such as dust masks, face shields, goggles, nitrile gloves, leather-palm gloves, and Tyvek covering—is worn as necessary.

Accident Prevention

  • Never work alone.
  • You must be trained by an instructor before you use lathes, milling machines, band saws, skill saw, pedestal drill, electric hand drill, SawsAll, EDM machine, gas welding/soldering/ brazing torch, Torchmate, and other power equipment. Even if you have worked on similar machines and tools elsewhere, you must have specific instruction on our models.
  • Never use head phones or cell phones in the shop.
  • Never eat or drink in the shop.
  • Never interrupt students working at machines.
  • Never lift heavy objects without assistance. See an instructor for help.
  • Report any unsafe conditions—such as spills, guards out of place, obstructed pathways, or unlabeled containers holding fluids—to an instructor.
  • Know the location of every fire extinguisher, power shut-off, compressed air shut-off valve, “panic” button on machinery, emergency shower, and telephone.

Hazardous Materials Handling

  • Never pour oils, paints, acids, caustic chemicals, flammable liquids, and other waste chemicals down the drain.
  • Store waste chemicals in tightly capped and labelled containers. Include your name and date on the label.

Maintaining Shop Order

  • Label any container into which you dispense liquid.
  • Replace caps on containers you open.
  • Keep your workspace tidy.
  • Return all tools to their proper home.

Emergency Procedures

  • Dial 911.
  • Explain the type of emergency, location, condition, and number of victims
  • Tell the dispatcher of any chemical spill, fire, fumes, or other hazard.
  • Tell the dispatcher if the person is unconscious, not breathing, is bleeding profusely, or has chest pain.
  • Do not hang up unless told to do so by the dispatcher.
  • Do not move victims unless there is danger of further injury if they are not moved.
  • Render first-aid or CPR only if you have been trained.
  • Do not leave the injured person except to summon help.
  • Have someone stand outside the building to flag down the ambulance or other first responde

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