The FabLab is a teaching-first environment. Safety is part of learning how to make well: understand the process, use the current controls, stay attentive, and stop when something is unclear or abnormal.
This page is a general safety baseline. It does not replace tool-specific training, posted instructions, required supervision, or official University emergency guidance.
If you are uncertain, stop and ask. Uncertainty about a material, machine status, setup, guard, ventilation system, file, or operating step is not permission to continue.
Ask the staff member or authorized student worker on duty before proceeding.
- Complete the training and authorization required for that specific tool or process.
- Check the posted equipment status. Do not use equipment marked unavailable, restricted, under maintenance, or awaiting inspection.
- Follow the current point-of-use attire and personal protective equipment requirements.
- Use only known, approved materials for the process.
- Confirm that guards, interlocks, ventilation, dust collection, and other required controls are in place and operating.
- Keep aisles, exits, controls, and shared work surfaces clear.
- Review the planned operation before starting. A reservation or room access does not replace training or authorization.
- Follow the procedure and operating limits you were taught.
- Stay attentive to the equipment and surrounding area.
- Never bypass, remove, or defeat a guard, interlock, ventilation system, dust-control system, or other safety control.
- Do not attempt a repair, adjustment, or operation outside your training.
- Stop if the equipment produces unexpected motion, sound, heat, smoke, odor, vibration, sparks, or results.
- Follow directions from FabLab staff and authorized student workers responsible for the space.
- Stop the operation if you can do so safely.
- Keep other people away from the affected equipment or area.
- Do not reset, troubleshoot, remove guards, or attempt a repair.
- Notify the staff member or authorized student worker on duty.
- Leave the equipment unavailable until a qualified person has inspected and released it.
Report injuries, near misses, equipment damage, material incidents, and unsafe conditions promptly. Good-faith reporting helps prevent the same problem from reaching the next user.
For fire, smoke, a serious injury, or another immediate danger:
- Warn people nearby and follow building alarms or official instructions.
- Evacuate by the nearest safe exit when directed.
- Call 911 from a safe location.
- Follow UK Police, fire department, emergency responder, and UK Alert instructions.
- Do not re-enter or restart equipment until authorized.
Use only emergency actions you are trained and able to perform safely. Do not delay evacuation to retrieve belongings, finish a job, or investigate a hazard.
Official University resources:
- Stop work with enough time to clean the area safely.
- Return tools and shared protective equipment to their designated locations.
- Remove scraps and debris using the process appropriate for that material.
- Preserve reusable material only in the designated reuse area.
- Report missing, damaged, or abnormal equipment.
- Leave the workspace safe and ready for the next user.