WMU Theatre | Scene Shop Guidelines

REGULATIONS REGARDING SHOP USE

All employees must take the Right to Know training.

Any student or employee replacing saw blades or repairing machinery or equipment must have received lockout training from Environmental Health

A shop supervisor must be present whenever a student or student employee is working in the Scene Shop.
A student must have the permission of the Technical Director to work in the shop at any time.
At least two people must be present at all times when power tools are in use.
Students shall not use equipment which they have not been properly trained to operate.
Students shall not operate equipment if safety features are disabled or removed.
Damaged or malfunctioning equipment must be reported to a shop supervisor immediately and tagged to prohibit use.
The Scene Shop shall be clean and all tools put away at the end of each work day.
Scene Shop Dress Code:
- All shop personnel must wear approved eye protection at all times.
- Hearing protection is recommended during construction activities (sawing, hammering, drilling, etc.)
- Substantial footwear (a shoe or boot which has an upper section made of leather or man-made leather covering the entire foot and sole of at least 1/4" thickness) must be worn at all times in the Scene Shop.
- No ties, jewelry, or loose fitting clothes which could become entangled in power equipment are permitted.
- Long hair must be worn up in such a way so as to not be entangled in power equipment.
- Proper welding dress (gloves, mask, long sleeves and pants, substantial shoes) must be worn for welding operations.
All injuries, no matter how slight, or any accident which causes damage to property shall be reported immediately to a shop supervisor.
All explosives and flammable liquids must be kept in a locked cabinet when not in use.
Absolutely no smoking in the Scene Shop.
Horseplay of any kind is not permitted and will result in a reduction or suspension of shop privileges.
Work on elevated structures must be done on safety ladders or scaffolding.

HOT WORK

Hot work as defined by Western Michigan University is any work that produces a possible source of ignition, including welding, torch cutting, brazing, soldering, flame heating, thawing pipes, torch applied roofing, and grinding.

There must be a shop supervisor present for welding or other hot work to take place.

Any student or employee must receive Western Michigan University’s hot work training before being allowed to do hot work.

A hot work permit must be filled out before any hot work may take place.

The area in which the hot work is going to take place must be free from flamable materials. If flamable materials cannot be removed, fire blankets/spark arresting equipment must be employed. A fire extinguisher must be present and at hand during all hot work. If the hot work is to take place on stage an additional fire watch person must be present. All hot work must cease at least thirty minutes before the end of a work call.

Welding or cutting on metals with hazardous coatings, such as galvanized steel, requires a respirator unless local exhaust is available at the source. No welding or cutting of painted metals. Welding or cutting with fluxes, coverings, or other materials containing fluorine compounds, zinc, lead, beryllium, chromium, arsenic, nickel, tin, cadmium, and mercury require a respirator unless local exhaust is available at the source.

All materials to be welded, cut, or brazed must have a material safety data sheet. For instance, no welding of scrapyard metals.

Anyone experiencing illness from exposure to any substances in the scene shop must report their illness immediately to the technical director and cease the process that is causing that illness.

Hearing protection is mandatory when using any of the power tools or hammering in conjunction with metal working.

DUST CONTROL

Dust control equipment must be use whenever the table saw, radial arm saw, chop saw, shaper, or planer are in use. Additonal dust masks are availible and encouraged at all times. Certain processes which create an inordinate amount of dust, as defined by a shop supervisor, will require the use of a dust mask or other type of respirator.

PERSONAL LIFT TRAINING

Any student or employee is required complete the Theatre Departments lift training program before being allowed to use any of the department personel lifts. This training will be renewed every three years.