2022 Safety Manual

New Buffalo
Robotics Safety Manual
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 2022 Safety Manual

Table Of Contents
● Safety Overview...…………………………………………4
● Team Responsibilities…………………………………….5
● General Safety Requirements..………………………….6
○ 3.1 Stored Energy..…………….…………………….6
○ 3.2 Hand Tools………………………………..……...6
○ 3.3 Mechanical Guards……………………………...7
○ 3.4 Respect of Electricity……………………….…...7
○ 3.5 Battery Safety…………………………………….8
○ 3.6 Chemical Safety………………………………….9
○ 3.7 Soldering…...…………………………………...10
● Personal Protective Equipment……...………………...11
○ 4.1 Eye and Face Protection……………………....11
○ 4.2 Hand Protection…………………………………12
○ 4.3 Hearing Protection……………………………...12
○ 4.4 Foot Protection..………………....……………..13
○ 4.5 Other Preventatives….………………………...14
● Safe Robot Handling Techniques…...………………...15
○ 5.1 Robot Carts……………..……………………....15
○ 5.2 Pre-Lift Procedures…….……………………....16
○ 5.3 During the Lift…………..….…………………....16
○ 5.4 Transporting Procedures……………………....17
○ 5.6 Post-Match Procedures..……………………....17
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 2022 Safety Manual

Table Of Contents
● Safety in Our Workspaces..……….………………..…..18
○ 6.1 General Safety Practices...…………….………18
● Safety at FIRST Events………….…...………………...19
○ 7.1 Safety Considerations….……………………....19
○ 7.2 Competition Safety…..…………………………19

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 2022 Safety Manual

Safety Overview
1.1 Safety Mission:

The Bionic Bison Robotics Team has a mission to instill Safety

Practices into all students that join our Team. We do our very best to
ensure a safe learning environment for all students to explore FRC.
With this Safety Manual, we maintain proper Safety Standards across
all Team Events.

1.2 Scope:

This Safety Manual is designed to guide all Team Members, Mentors,

Coaches, Visitors, and Volunteers on proper safety procedures. Any
person who affiliates themselves with Team 5535 will follow the
proper safety procedures in this Manual.

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 2022 Safety Manual

Team Responsibilities

2.1 All Team Members:

● Be familiar with this manual, as well as understand and follow

established safety requirements.
● Work in a safe and responsible manner.
● Use proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), safeguards,
and other safety equipment as required.
● Identify and report any unsafe or hazardous conditions to a
Mentor.
● Encourage safe behaviour.

2.2 Coaches/Mentors:

● Lead by example. Practice safety behaviours that are expected

from the students.
● Provide guidance and encouragement on a safe working
environment, as well as guidance on proper safety procedures.
● Ensure to properly educate all students on current and updated
safety procedures.

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 2022 Safety Manual

General Safety Requirements

3.1 Stored Energy:

● Electrical Energy:
○ Disconnect the electric power source.
○ Best Practice: Always de-energize the robot before working on it by
opening the main circuit breaker and unplugging batteries.
● Pneumatic Energy:
○ Always vent any and all compressed air to the atmosphere.
○ Open the main vent valve and verify that all pressure gauges on the
robot indicate zero pressure.
● Miscellaneous Energy Sources:
○ Relieve any compressed or stretched springs or tubing.
○ Lower all raised robot arms or devices that could drop down to a
lower position on the robot.

3.2 Hand Tools:

● Tool Rules:
○ Before using any tool, check to see if it is in good condition. Don’t
use a defective, dull, or broken tool. If the tool is defective, remove it
from use and notify a mentor.
○ When using a tool, place the work on a bench or hard surface rather
than in the palm of your hand.
○ When using knives/blades, direct your cutting strokes away from
your hand and body and be aware of those around you.
○ Wear cut resistant gloves.
○ Tools must be returned to their proper storage areas, unless stated
otherwise. Tools should be stored in a safe area.

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 2022 Safety Manual

General Safety Requirements

3.3 Mechanical Guards:

Mentors should provide safety guards for power tools where

applicable. Never use any equipment without safety guards in
place. Notify your mentor of any broken or defective equipment
and remove it from use until repairs are made.

3.4 Respect of Electricity:

● Proper use and respect for electricity is required. The following

are general guidelines for ensuring basic electrical safety
requirements are met.
● Inspect your equipment cords and extension cords routinely to
ensure they are in good condition.
● DO NOT “daisy chain” power strips. This could cause the
potential for fire or electric shock due to overloading of the circuit.

3.5 Battery Safety:

● Batteries contain acid. This is a corrosive, colorless liquid that will

burn your eyes, skin, and clothing. FRC team mentors and/or
student leads should post the Safety Data Sheet for the battery in
use and train all members of battery safety.

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 2022 Safety Manual

General Safety Requirements

3.5 Battery Safety:

● Any battery that is visibly damaged in any way is dangerous and
unusable. Don’t take a chance - don’t use it!
● Set aside a damaged battery and handle accordingly:
○ Immediately flush any contacted skin with a large quantity of water.
○ Seek medical treatment.
○ Periodically inspect your batteries for any signs on damage or
leaking electrolyte. Remember that a dropped battery may be
cracked, but the crack may not be visible and might eventually leak.
○ Treat it as a hazardous material and process it in accordance with
the battery’s SDS.
○ Don’t take a chance - don’t use it!
● Necessary Safety Materials:
○ Team 5535 will have a emergency battery spill kit in the workshop,
as well as in the pits.
● Procedure for handling a leaking battery:
○ Neutralize it by pouring the sodium bicarbonate on all wetted
surfaces. This will leave a safe residue that can be disposed of in a
conventional way.
○ Notify a Mentor and follow proper SDS procedures.
○ Put on gloves before handling the battery.
○ Place the battery in a leak proof container for removal.
○ Be sure to neutralize any acid on the gloves before removing them
and storing them.
○ Seek medical attention if skin met any chemicals.
○ Properly dispose of the battery, which is now a hazardous material.

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 2022 Safety Manual

General Safety Requirements

3.6 Chemical Safety:

● Keep chemical containers in good condition.

● Make sure all chemical containers have labels placed by the
manufacturer.
● Ensure all labels are legible.
● Become familiar with the chemicals you may use as part of
FIRST.
● Store all chemicals in an orderly way. Obtain SDS for the
chemicals your team uses.
● If you are exposed to a chemical, notify the Safety Captain and a
Mentor immediately and consult the SDS if needed.
● Don’t use any highly flammable materials at FIRST events.

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 2022 Safety Manual

General Safety Requirements

3.7 Soldering:

Soldering can be dangerous because of the heat from the iron

and the chemical fumes and vapors released from the solder and
flux. When soldering, observe the following points:

● Use lead-free solder only and solder with electrical soldering gun.
● No torches or open flames of any kind are allowed.
● Wear eye and face protection.
● Solder in well-ventilated areas.
● Never touch the soldering gun tip.
● Prevent burns by wearing cotton clothing that covers your arms
and legs.
● Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling
solder.
● Work on a fire-resistant surface.
● Keep your soldering iron in its protective holder when not being
used.
● Do not leave any hot tools where someone can accidentally
contact the hot tip.

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 2022 Safety Manual

Personal Protective Equipment

4.1 Eye and Face Protection:

There are several forms of eye/face protection available to provide

protection from related hazards. Inspect for damage each time it they
are worn.

● Wear eye protection in the following situations:

○ When performing any work on the robot including grinding, drilling,
soldering, cutting, welding, etc.
○ When there is a risk of exposure to flying particles or chemical
exposure.
○ At FIRST Events, in the pit areas, near the arena, on the practice
field, or any area with a posted sign.
● If you wear prescription glasses that do not have a marked safety
rating, you must wear rated safety goggles over them to achieve
adequate protection.
● If you wear marked safety rated glasses, you may use
ANSI-approved, UL-Listed, CE EN166 rated, AS/NZS certified, or
CSA rated side shields.

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 2022 Safety Manual

Personal Protective Equipment

4.2 Hand Protection:

Hand protection is designed to protect against heat, electrical,

chemical, and mechanical hazards. Use proper gloves and
mechanical tool guards for the application.

4.3 Hearing Protection:

Make hearing protection devices available, such as earplugs, where

there are objectionable/questionable sound levels. At FIRST Robotics
Competition events, hearing protection is often available at pit
administration. A mentor can provide assistance in evaluating
high-noise tasks and determining appropriate hearing protection
devices.

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 2022 Safety Manual

Personal Protective Equipment

4.4 Foot Protection:

When engaged in FIRST Activities, FIRST participants must wear

shoes that completely cover the entire foot. Shoes must be
substantial and have closed toes and heels to protect against foot
injuries, regardless of work location. Flip flops, sandals, mules,
lightweight slippers, etc. are not acceptable when working on or near
the robot.

In some cases, safety shoes or toe guards are appropriate for areas
where heavy objects can fall on your foot. Notify your Safety
Captain/Mentor if you encounter such situations.

Spectators attending FIRST competitions should follow the same

footwear rules as participants. If substantial close-toed shoes are not
available, they may enter the pit area as long as they remain in the pit
aisles. Spectators that do not meet the footwear requirement for
participants, as described above, are not allowed inside individual
team pits or in any locations where robots are being worked on.

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 2022 Safety Manual

Personal Protective Equipment

4.5 Other Preventatives:

Ensure that team members or mentors are not wearing ties, loose
clothing, jewelry, hanging key chains or similar when near or working
on moving or rotating machinery to avoid the potential risk of draw
into rotation parts. In the case of individuals with long hair, this risk
should be mitigated by tying back or covering long hair.

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 2022 Safety Manual

Safe Robot Handling Techniques

5.1 Robot Carts:

● Carts must remain in the team pit area when not in use for robot
transportation.
● All carts should fit through a standard 30-inch door.
● Wheels on the cart must not damage site flooring.
● Do not add music or other sound generating devices to the cart,
with the exception of devices of reasonable volume intended to
be activated occasionally to make others in the direct vicinity
aware that a robot is on the move for safety purposes.
● Put your team number on your cart so it can be identified by field
personnel.

Carts must be safe. They must be easy to control and maneuver and
pose no risk to bystanders.

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 2022 Safety Manual

Safe Robot Handling Techniques

5.2 Pre-Lift Procedures:

● Ensure all transporters are wearing appropriate PPE.

● Make sure the robot is safe to move.
● Before lifting, hold a short discussion to ensure everyone is on
the same page.
● Ensure that the areas and paths are clear.

5.3 During the Lift:

● Make sure both team members are ready to lift before lifting.
● Each lifter should place their feet close to the robot and adopt a
balanced position.
● All persons should lift at the same time using proper body
mechanics.
● Make sure the cart is stable and will not roll.
● Use the gate opening to enter the playing field. Climbing over the
railing is prohibited.

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 2022 Safety Manual

Safe Robot Handling Techniques

5.4 Transporting Procedures:

● Make sure the robot is in stable condition on the cart before

transporting.
● Keep the cart under control at all times, especially when
removing or placing the robot.
● Lead the cart with a team member who can ensure the safety of
those in the path of the travel area.
● Use patience and control when moving the robot, especially in
crowded areas.
● Ensure that the cart will not roll away or pose a hazard,
especially upon robot removal.
● Use the gate opening when entering/exiting the playing field.
Climbing over the railing is prohibited.

5.5 Post-Match Procedures:

● Relieve all stored energy and open the main circuit breaker on
the robot.
● Ensure that the robot is made safe prior to lifting it.
● Remove debris from the playing field, if any.
● Use the above “Pre-Lift” and “During the lift” procedures.
● Use the gate opening to exit the playing field. Climbing over the
railing is prohibited.

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 2022 Safety Manual

Safety in Our Workspaces

6.1 General Safety Practices:

● Follow safe work practices, including safe use of all tools and
personal protective equipment.
● Always walk and work in a controlled and thoughtful manner.
Keep full control of robot at all times.
● Be especially careful around high speed rotating components,
both on and off the robot. If you are putting a high-speed rotating
component on the robot, make sure the component is designed
to be used the way you are using it.
● Take special care when working above normal height or ground
level.
● Always fully open a ladder and never stand on a non-approved
step.
● Be careful using tools that generate heat, such as heat guns and
soldering irons.
● Do not use gloves when using shop equipment such as band
saws and drill presses to prevent a glove from being accidentally
drawn into the rotating machinery.
● Participants must be behind shielding or in a marked off safety
area when robots are actively operating to prevent accidental
collision or contact with an active robot.

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 2022 Safety Manual

Safety at FIRST Events

7.1 Safety Considerations:

At events, the pure anticipation and excitement can sometimes

overshadow common sense and safety. One safety area teams
sometimes overlook is the need to wear appropriate clothing when
working on or being around robots.

● Refrain from wearing dangling jewelry or loose, baggy clothing

near the robots.
● Tie back long hair so that it will not get caught in the robot or
other machinery.
● Wear gloves to protect hands and fingers from when handling the
robot or the robot crate. Finger injuries are on of the most
common injuries at events.

7.2 Competition Safety:

● Use the buddy system when traveling and at the event.

● FIRST staff and volunteers are distinguished by their badges.
● Stay aware of your surroundings.
● Always demonstrate safe behaviours.
● Establish a planned, safe lifting procedure of the robot.
● Assist and mentor other teams with safety issues.

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