PPE
Proper PPE (personal protective equipment) use is a fundamental requirement for work in shop spaces.
MIT campus shops require all users to follow safety rules at all times in shop spaces, which include wearing/using PPE.
When a user plans to work in a shop space, they must come in dressed appropriately, and use necessary PPE while working:
Excerpt from MIT Shop & Machine Safety SOP (link TBA)
5.3 Individual Users
5.3.1 Individual tool and equipment users are responsible for obtaining all required training, following safe work practices, properly using and
maintaining tools and equipment, and immediately notifying the Facility Manager, Supervisor, or Monitor of any problems or unsafe conditions. They
are also responsible for choosing appropriate safe attire and wearing all required personal protective equipment.
- open-toed shoes are not allowed
- long hair must be tied back - hair that may obscure vision, move/catch on things, or be otherwise distracting, must be secured.
Take into account any movements or posture changes during work that may cause the situation to change - like bending over allowing hair to
swing around a shoulder
- loose/long dangling clothing, jewelry, headphones, that could catch on things or be distracting in any way must be removed, replaced, or tied back / secured to remove these risks. Cloth or leather gloves are NOT
allowed on any machinery- they are an entanglement hazard.
- NEVER wear leather/fabric gloves while operating shop machinery without explicit permission/supervision of shop management.
In most cases the glove material is more likely to get caught and bound up in a moving machine part - it won't just tear.
We have heavy duty gloves for welding, aluminum casting, and for moving heavy sheet material, but they are not safe to wear during
normal cutting tool use.
- Safety glasses (with side protection) or goggles or full face shields must be worn by all users in shop spaces - not just when operating machines.
We have exceptions to this specifically in 3-402A (laser cutters) or 3-412. In the wood shop spaces, when any unguarded machine (water jet, Intelitek, etc)
is in operation in one of the other rooms, or when working in the spray booth, eye protection is required.
- Nitrile gloves are provided for working with liquids or materials like plaster powder.
- Hearing protection should be worn when any noisy work is being done - this includes laser cutter use.
- Headphones do NOT qualify, and must always be removed when working in any machine space.
- We can provide Tyvek jackets/sleeves for certain work - check with us, especially as this level of potential exposure may require more coordination -
See Chemical Use Rules for more info.
- We have special PPE in 3-402 for the few people trained to handle the lye (NaOH) tank in 3-402, and you'll see it hanging on the wall there. If you think
you will need this level of PPE for a project, that means you are thinking about using a large volume of hazardous chemical - this should only ever be
happening under direct supervision by shop management, so you must contact us first if it is a potential need.
See Chemical Use Rules for more info.
- Distraction, which can be caused by inappropriate dress or lack of correct PPE is also just as
dangerous as a literal entanglement hazard.
- Users will not be allowed to work in shop spaces without proper dress/PPE.
We have PPE cabinets in each shop room (except for 3-412) with equipment for shop users:
In them, you can find safety glasses, hearing protection, hair ties (in 3-410 and N51-160) nitrile gloves, first aid, black trash / clear recycling bags
and copies of machine manuals (please use our provided tutorials and in-person shop training- these are available for reference, but reading them does
NOT constitute any kind of machine training).
Because the lye tank lives in 3-402, there is also an eye wash and shower by the door in that space.
How to Use an Eyewash Station
Go Immediately to the Eyewash Station - Don't Waste A Second!
Begin to Flush
Hold Your Eyes Open with Your Fingers
Roll Your Eyes
Flush for a Full Fifteen Minutes
Take Out Your Contacts
If the shower is needed, all contaminated clothing must be removed!
If you are even considering doing any work where this kind of chemical spill could happen, it
must only be done after approval and with direct supervision
of shop management, so we can prevent this kind of emergency from ever happening.
See Chemical Use Rules for more info.