Where do I find information about the education department’s safety requirements for Technology classrooms?
The current guidelines for Safety in the Technology classroom can be found on our OH&S page:
Can senior students use industrial machinery? (Restricted plant)
On the link above, there is a list of safer machinery and restricted machinery.
Restricted machinery includes:
Cutting | Shaping |
|---|---|
Rip Saw (Table Saw, Bench Saw) Band Saw Docking Saw (Cross-Cut Saw, Radial Arm Saw) Triton Work Centre Portable Circular Saw Circular Saw Table Slide Compound Mitre Saw & Compound Mitre Saw Reciprocating Saw Guillotine (Powered or manually-operated) Panel Saw | Grinder (Pedestal or Bench) Buzzer (Surface Planer) Thicknesser Spindle Moulder Power Wood Shaper Portable Planer Metal Cut-off Saw Table Inverted Router Portable Plunge Router (unsecured) i.e. without template or guide fence. |
Schools must put very strict guidelines and controls in place before students can use restricted machines. Schools must ensure that:
- Any teachers teaching and supervising students while using these machines must have the ‘Safe Use of Machinery’ accreditation
- Thorough risk assessments on all machinery and all activities have been carried out by the school
- All other methods of production using safer machinery have been explored
- Students have undergone a thorough training program that includes demonstration, written testing and competency testing (records of these should be kept for 7 years)
- The teacher is confident that students are mature enough to safely use the machinery
- The teacher can supervise the student while using the machinery
Who do I contact if I have a specific OH&S concern?
- Your first reference should be the DET website link above
- You need to discuss OH&S issues with other members of your Technology staff, your school administration and your OH&S representative
- You could also contact your union if you think an OH&S issue is not being addressed in your school
- If your issue is important, you can contact Glenn Eckardt, Senior OH&S Policy Advisor at the DET: eckardt.glenn.g@edumail.vic.gov.au
- For general advice, you can contact DATTA Vic or post a question on the Design and Technology group on edulists: www.edulists.com.au