Woodworking and Engineering Guidelines
New York State 4-H Program Cornell Cooperative Extension
Woodworking and Engineering Guidelines 4-H Engineering projects provide young people with the opportunity to develop design thinking and use engineering practices. Like all 4-H activities, safety is the foundation of a successful experience. These are our minimum safety guidelines for New York State 4-H engineering projects, including working with wood and other materials.
Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research
Safety Mindset Instill youth with a safety mind-set and develop safety habits. • Review general safety guidelines at the start of each work session. o No horseplay o Protect eyes, lungs and skin. o Use the proper tool for the job. o Place shared tools and equipment in the center of the worktable after use. • Demonstrate safety procedures specific to the activities of the day. • Set a good example and insist that all other adults and older youth assisting with the activities also follow all safety guidelines. • Ensure that activities are appropriate to the previous experience and physical maturity of participants. Be aware that age, height and maturity in other areas (ex. intelligence or social skills) are not good predictors of physical strength or coordination.
Safe Working Conditions Arrange for safe working conditions in the meeting room and in work areas and explain to participants why the room is arranged as it is. • Set up your space o Provide adequate lighting, space to work and, ventilation when using volatile materials. o Use tables and work surfaces that are at an appropriate height for participants. o Arrange tools and equipment to be shared in the center of the worktable. o Shops should have GFCI protected outlets. Keep all electrical cords in good repair and replace defective cords. Keep work areas free of obstructions. o Keep all work surfaces free of clutter. Take out only the tools or equipment necessary for the immediate procedure and store them immediately after use. o Arrange cords and hoses so no one will trip or walk over them. o Sweep sawdust, shavings, and other debris often so they don’t accumulate. o Clean up all liquid spills immediately. Dispose of oily and stained rags properly and safely, depending on what is on the rag. • Maintain tools and equipment in optimum working condition. o In particular cutting tools should be kept as sharp as possible. (Struggling with a dull tool is much more hazardous than handling a sharp tool properly.) o Set up separate workstations for the use of equipment or materials that require close supervision (one-on-one for motorized tools) by an experienced adult or older youth. Use protective clothing and gear. o Require the use of protective gloves. When used, gloves must fit properly; oversized gloves are hazardous. Gloves must be made of a material (latex, neoprene, abrasion resistant or fireproof fabric, etc.) compatible to the equipment or product being used. Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities .
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Require the use of properly fitting goggles when using tools, sanding or using solvents, paints, finishing materials or other potentially hazardous substances. o Require the use of facemasks when using an electric sander, volatile liquids or other items that can cause the inhalation of hazardous material. Prepare for emergencies. o Have an all-purpose fire extinguisher in a handy place. o Keep an adequate first-aid kit in the working area. o Keep exits clear and free of anything that could cause someone to trip.
Adult Supervision Arrange for adequate adult supervision. A minimum of 2 adults should be present at all times. In case of an accident or emergency one adult can supervise the youth while the other deals with the problem. Arrange for one-on-one supervision by an adult (18 years +) with proven skill or recent training when youth are using motorized tools.
Program Setting Use of moderate-risk tools/equipment Use of motorized tools
Ages 7 - 8
Ages 9 – 11
Ages 12 +
1:1 / 1:3 NA
1:8 1:1
1:12 1:1
Tools and Equipment Approved Below is a list of tools approved for each age group. Ages 7 - 8 Ages 9 - 10 Claw Hammer All tools that 7-8 year Pliers olds can use, plus: Sandpaper Block Carpenters Pencil Combination Square Try Square Protractor Handsaw Vise Screwdrivers C-Clamp Wood Rasp Mineral Spirits Tape Measure Crosscut saw C-clamp Brace and Bit Nail set Safety Glasses Hand (not power) drill
Ages 11 - 13 All tools that 7-10 year olds can use, plus: Wood glue Handscrew Pipe bar clamp Wood chisel Stains Paint thinner T-Bevel Hand Plane Rabbit Plane Hand Router Power Screwdriver Cordless Drill
Prohibited The use of the following are prohibited for use by youth under age 18: High speed or high power tools that can quickly sever a body part Lathes
Ages 14-18 All tools that 7-13 year olds can use, plus: Router Circular Saw Dovetail saw Sharp knife Mallet Drill Press Sanders Chemical Solvent Saber Saw Bandsaw Jigsaw Scroll saw Table saw
Woodworking and Engineering Guidelines 4-H Engineering projects provide young people with the opportunity to develop design thinking and use engineering practices. Like all 4-H activities, safety is the foundation of a successful experience. These are our minimum safety guidelines for New York State 4-H engineering projects, including working with wood and other materials.
Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research
Safety Mindset Instill youth with a safety mind-set and develop safety habits. • Review general safety guidelines at the start of each work session. o No horseplay o Protect eyes, lungs and skin. o Use the proper tool for the job. o Place shared tools and equipment in the center of the worktable after use. • Demonstrate safety procedures specific to the activities of the day. • Set a good example and insist that all other adults and older youth assisting with the activities also follow all safety guidelines. • Ensure that activities are appropriate to the previous experience and physical maturity of participants. Be aware that age, height and maturity in other areas (ex. intelligence or social skills) are not good predictors of physical strength or coordination.
Safe Working Conditions Arrange for safe working conditions in the meeting room and in work areas and explain to participants why the room is arranged as it is. • Set up your space o Provide adequate lighting, space to work and, ventilation when using volatile materials. o Use tables and work surfaces that are at an appropriate height for participants. o Arrange tools and equipment to be shared in the center of the worktable. o Shops should have GFCI protected outlets. Keep all electrical cords in good repair and replace defective cords. Keep work areas free of obstructions. o Keep all work surfaces free of clutter. Take out only the tools or equipment necessary for the immediate procedure and store them immediately after use. o Arrange cords and hoses so no one will trip or walk over them. o Sweep sawdust, shavings, and other debris often so they don’t accumulate. o Clean up all liquid spills immediately. Dispose of oily and stained rags properly and safely, depending on what is on the rag. • Maintain tools and equipment in optimum working condition. o In particular cutting tools should be kept as sharp as possible. (Struggling with a dull tool is much more hazardous than handling a sharp tool properly.) o Set up separate workstations for the use of equipment or materials that require close supervision (one-on-one for motorized tools) by an experienced adult or older youth. Use protective clothing and gear. o Require the use of protective gloves. When used, gloves must fit properly; oversized gloves are hazardous. Gloves must be made of a material (latex, neoprene, abrasion resistant or fireproof fabric, etc.) compatible to the equipment or product being used. Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities .
o
Require the use of properly fitting goggles when using tools, sanding or using solvents, paints, finishing materials or other potentially hazardous substances. o Require the use of facemasks when using an electric sander, volatile liquids or other items that can cause the inhalation of hazardous material. Prepare for emergencies. o Have an all-purpose fire extinguisher in a handy place. o Keep an adequate first-aid kit in the working area. o Keep exits clear and free of anything that could cause someone to trip.
Adult Supervision Arrange for adequate adult supervision. A minimum of 2 adults should be present at all times. In case of an accident or emergency one adult can supervise the youth while the other deals with the problem. Arrange for one-on-one supervision by an adult (18 years +) with proven skill or recent training when youth are using motorized tools.
Program Setting Use of moderate-risk tools/equipment Use of motorized tools
Ages 7 - 8
Ages 9 – 11
Ages 12 +
1:1 / 1:3 NA
1:8 1:1
1:12 1:1
Tools and Equipment Approved Below is a list of tools approved for each age group. Ages 7 - 8 Ages 9 - 10 Claw Hammer All tools that 7-8 year Pliers olds can use, plus: Sandpaper Block Carpenters Pencil Combination Square Try Square Protractor Handsaw Vise Screwdrivers C-Clamp Wood Rasp Mineral Spirits Tape Measure Crosscut saw C-clamp Brace and Bit Nail set Safety Glasses Hand (not power) drill
Ages 11 - 13 All tools that 7-10 year olds can use, plus: Wood glue Handscrew Pipe bar clamp Wood chisel Stains Paint thinner T-Bevel Hand Plane Rabbit Plane Hand Router Power Screwdriver Cordless Drill
Prohibited The use of the following are prohibited for use by youth under age 18: High speed or high power tools that can quickly sever a body part Lathes
Ages 14-18 All tools that 7-13 year olds can use, plus: Router Circular Saw Dovetail saw Sharp knife Mallet Drill Press Sanders Chemical Solvent Saber Saw Bandsaw Jigsaw Scroll saw Table saw
