CHAPTER 3 ■ SAFETY
Reading Chemical Labels
The labels for chemicals are as important as the instructions for tools.
Of additional benefit are Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), which often aren’t included with the
chemical at the time of purchase. The MSDS lists all hazards and the appropriate preventions and solutions.
These sheets are available from the manufacturer and often the distributor. The sheets are commonly posted
on the Web.
Donning Safety Glasses
A single errant shard in an eye can eliminate your depth perception and half of your vision. A chemical
splash can impair or destroy both your eyes. Together with a sharp brain and steady fingers, your eyes are
fundamental to building great robots.
Wear your safety glasses! (See Figure 3-1.)
There was a woman up the block from me who made a little extra money by sewing. One day, the
needle from her sewing machine shattered during ordinary use, sending a piece of the needle into her eye.
Freak accident? Yes, but it goes to show that you can’t rely on your sense of what is dangerous to determine
when an activity might bring about an eye hazard.
I always wear safety glasses whenever I work around machinery or chemicals. I also wear safety glasses
when snipping wires or cutting sheet metal.
Hanging Glasses and Placing Them Face Up
A tip from your high-school shop teacher: Never place your safety glasses face down. The lenses will become
greasy, soiled, or scratched. The decreased visibility results in a lower likelihood of your using the glasses
and an increased likelihood of your removing them “just long enough” for a close inspection.
Instead, hang the glasses some place that you’ll be reminded to put them on before using the
equipment.
Figure 3-1. Safety goggles protect your eyes