People working with drills

Safety Levels

Green Level

HuskyCT training and quiz completion required. If you do not have access to the HuskyCT training, please view instructions for self enrolling above.

Yellow Level

Yellow-level equipment training with Maker Specialist required

Red Level

Red-level equipment training with Maker Specialist required

SELF-ENROLLMENT

To gain entry to our spaces, you must get an 80% or higher in our general safety training. There are three levels of safety training. Once green zone training is complete, maker specialists will guide you through our yellow zone and red zone training process.

COMPLETING GREEN LEVEL TRAINING

  1. Self-Enroll in Safety Training on Husky CT
  2. Select “Tech/Maker/Shop Training”, and read through the “Site Orientation”
  3. Select “Training Lessons”
  4. In order to gain access to the IZone Makerspace, you will need to complete the following training modules and receive AT LEAST an 80% on the associated quizzes:
    1. Tech Space HazCom Training with Graded Quiz
    2. Tech/Maker/Shop PPE Training with Graded Quiz
    3. Tech, Maker, and Shop Spaces: Green Level Training- Graded Quiz

General Safety

  1. If there is an accident and someone is hurt in the Innovation Zone:
    • Call 9-1-1 from your mobile phone or a campus phone
    • Location: Peter J. Werth Residence Tower Room 014
    • Get help from IZone staff
    • Do your best to provide assistance while emergency response team arrives
    • Call the director (number posted on yellow card on shop door)
  2. Follow all UConn safety policies and procedures
  3. IZone members follow the instructions of space and staff
  4. Do not do anything that is not safe. If there is any uncertainty about whether an activity is safe, please consult IZone staff before proceeding.
  5. If you see a fellow IZone member doing something that might be unsafe, tell them
  6. If you see something dangerous in the Innovation Zone, inform the other occupants of the Innovation Zone as well as IZone staff immediately
  7. For your safety and security, video cameras are located throughout the space
  8. Before any chemicals are brought into the IZone, this must be discussed with IZone staff and MSDS sheets must be provided
  9. The IZone front door should only be propped open by IZone staff

PPE

  • Accessing the IZone requires CLOSED TOE SHOES and SAFETY GLASSES
  • LONG HAIR must be TIED BACK
  • Loose clothing, long sleeve shirts, and clothing with hanging pieces/material should not be worn when working with rotating tools, equipment, or saws as they can pull a person into a machine

HazCom

  • Don’t walk directly behind someone operating a machine, you may bump/hit or startle them and cause an accident
  • Store materials in such a way that they are not tripping hazards
  • If any liquids spill on the floor, clean them up immediately; they can be tripping hazards
  • Don’t run in the makerspace; there’s nothing cool about tripping into a dangerous situation
  • Don’t eat or Drink: this space may contain wood chips or chemicals that won’t do good things to your insides
  • Get first aid immediately for any injury

Policy

  • University policy specifies that no student shall work alone in an immediately hazardous environment. Working with a partner decreases the risk of severe injury should you find yourself in need of help.
  • Do not set up or operate machinery unless an instructor is in the shop
  • Do not operate a machine unless you are authorized or under an instructor’s supervision
  • Make sure you have sufficient light to see clearly
  • Talk to an instructor before powering-on a machine
  • Instructors may suggest a better process for making your piece
    • Once an instructor gets to know you, conversations can be as simple as: “Hey Cody, I’m gonna punch a hole with the drill press;” “Great, can’t wait to see how it turns out”
  • Use the proper tool for a job, when tools aren’t used properly they can lead to hands slipping into sharp objects
  • Put away tools and clean your space before you leave