Health and Safety  

1. Protective clothing. No loose cuffs. Make sure you wear an overall or apron to keep your normal clothes both enclosed and clean. If you are working plastic you should wear gloves. If you are welding you should wear coloured eye goggles to prevent glare (or an eye shield in the case of electric welding), a hat to prevent sparks going down your back (I wear a fire resistant base ball cap put on backwards), gloves to protect your hands from sparks and electric shock, leather apron which is far less likely to catch fire. For casting you should wear all leather gear. This includes heavy duty leather apron, gloves, hat, leggings and spats (spats are covers for your shoes or boots to prevent any spilled metal going in there (ouch!). For drilling machines, lathes, milling machines shaping machines and surface grinders (and any other common workshop machinery) aprons/overalls should be worn along with high impact eye glasses. Don't forget some materials have toxic fumes or dangerous dust and you need to wear respirators (face masks). 

2. Guards on machines should always be used. Sometimes they are a bit if a pain in the neck but its better than cutting your little bits off. Mainly these are chuck guards in the case of lathes and drilling machines, they cut down the risk of catching loose clothing in them. More complicated guards such as those used on milling machines should be adjusted and re-adjusted as the work progresses. 

3. Control buttons/levers. Always make sure a machine is isolated at the mains before doing major adjustments. Make sure you know where start stop and emergency stop buttons are, both on the machine you are using and in the general workshop area. Never switch on or off a machine for somebody else no matter how much they beg you to do it (they can sue you if something goes wrong). Don't crowd round machines that have people waiting, find something else to do while you wait.

4. General conduct in a workshop. USE YOUR COMMON SENSE. Don't run, carry sharp tools with the cutting edges covered if possible, if not with the cutting edge facing down, don't run, keep your own area tidy, make sure you report all breakages and spills. Don't act daft, remember its only fun when everybody is laughing.

5. Be aware. Only operate machines that you have been instructed how to use and if you have permission to use them. Be aware that some materials are explosive (welding bottles if you are 16 and can use them), or very inflammable (paint brush cleaner. Some materials give of thick smoke or deadly smoke (look in the plastics section) and when welding some materials a deadly gas is given off (galvanized steel for example).

Designing for the wider market.

Don't forget if you are designing for a wide market you have to consider safety of children. No small parts. Make sure things don't come apart easily. Finishes should be non-toxic (not poisonous). Cling Film, Plastic Bags, Thin Plastic Packaging, Large staples holding boxes together, Electricity, Heat and Glass can all be dangerous when used in designs, careful about using them if asked in the test.  Anything with moving parts needs to be so designed to prevent fingers, toes, clothes and hair getting trapped.

YOUNG PEOPLE AND CD/GAMES RACKS

Obviously there are other things to be considered when dealing with young people If you are asked to design something in the test make sure you don't say the easiest thing that comes into your head e.g. - nail it, or put a screw in it. These things can be dangerous if they come apart. Try to think of a joint (I have given you a few) they are much safer when they fall to bits. Think of the materials you might use. Metals are usually unsuitable for younger children (let them get older than 3). Young children put stuff in their mouths, so make sure it is non-toxic (big word meaning not poisonous). This applies to the material (zinc is no good for you and neither is lead) but you also need to consider the finish. Paint often contains LEAD make sure you say the paint is non-toxic. 

Make sure the article does not come into small pieces if the child is under 3 (choking) and make sure there are no sharp bits. Don't forget about weight, if it falls it could be dangerous. Not just as obvious could be a rotating or folding CD rack it could trap your fingers. If the rack is bought as a flat pack, once it is erected (put up) is it safe for younger children or could it easily collapse?

Don't forget small children are prone to falling a lot. Make sure that anything you are asked to design is safe enough in such situations. What is suitable for you is no good for an 8 year old and what is good for an 8 year old is no good for a baby. You all have different NEEDS. 

Anything with moving parts needs to be so designed to prevent fingers, toes, clothes and hair getting trapped. think of the way that machinery is guarded, can you think of something similar if your CD rack has moving parts.

Cling Film, Plastic Bags, Thin Plastic Packaging, Large staples holding boxes together, Electricity, Heat and Glass can all be lethal, careful with using them if asked in the test. There are loads of other things as well. Try not to think ME ME ME, try to think CHILD, CHILD, CHILD if you are asked to design something or evaluate something. (Evaluation is just saying what you think the good points and bad points are about an item). MAKE A LIST