Maker Safety – What will happen when…?

There’s one simple question at the center of a safe working mindset: what will happen when this situation goes wrong? Note that it’s not a question of if, but when. The tool will slip sooner or later, and if you’re working with someone still developing coordination, count on it being sooner. But this is fine, as long as you think ahead.

The first thing I do when introducing a tool like a hand saw is to direct attention to the sharp part. (“Where’s the dangerous part of this tool? Let’s try touching it carefully to see how sharp it is.”) This lays the framework for noticing and managing danger. It’s easy to go overboard, adults tend to want to scare children into staying away from dangerous situations entirely, but that’s not what we want. We want to instill the respect in the dangerous thing and then explain that we will teach them to use it safely.

After this, and while showing how the tool is used, it’s important to help them think through potential danger issues. “Is this a safe position while using this tool? What will happen if I use a handsaw with my hand right next to the teeth?” Don’t answer these questions for them. It’s important that they say it themselves.

Additionally, I continue to use “what will happen” when correcting incorrect and dangerous tool use. “I notice that you’re holding onto that beam of wood right behind where you’re drilling. What will happen if you drill all the way through?” Oftentimes, they’ll catch the meaning and adjust without needing explicit instruction, which is what we want. We can’t watch every moment with every tool, and the quicker they can evaluate a safe workspace themselves, the better.