Lab safety & resources

Know where the exits, fire extinguishers, emergency shower station and handicapped refuge areas are on each floor you use. Study the maps/signs on each floor of the building.

When you enter a lab for the first session, locate the basic safety utilities such as the exit, the fire extinguisher, the first aid kit and the phone.

Find health and safety resources on the WorkSafeBC site.

For all first aid, call Campus Security at 250-721-7599.

For medical emergencies, call 911 and Campus Security at 250-721-7599.

All injuries must be reported to the instructor and/or technician. The injured person must fill out the incident report and submit it to their instructor/supervisor.

There are several mechanical hazards in most of the laboratories and the machine shop. They include:

• displacement machinery (robot arms, links, impact testing, MTI machines, etc.)
• air-sucking and blowing fans and pumps (air lines, wind tunnels, etc.)
• fluids pumping machinery (oil pumps, air lines, water flume, hydraulic benches, etc.)
• heat and gas-producing equipment (diesel engines, HVAC apparatuses, heat exchangers, etc.)
• rotating machinery (lathes, mills, drills, motors, etc.)

Follow basic safety procedures to minimize potential safety hazards:

1. Plan your activities and discuss safety concerns as a group before running an experiment. If unsure of the correct operating procedure, ask for help from your instructor or TA.
2. Read the lab manual thoroughly and observe the specific safety concerns mentioned.
3. In general, do not turn on any mechanical equipment without:
   • the presence of an assistant, supervisor or TA
   • anticipating the motion reach of any moving equipment and staying well clear of it
   • knowing beforehand how to turn the equipment off
4. Recognize sources of heat and avoid coming in contact with hot surfaces.
5. When operating machinery, wear a lab coat, safety goggles and, if necessary, ear protectors. Make sure there are no dangling ties, gloves or hair that can be sucked in or become tangled in machinery.
6. Immediately report any equipment malfunctions or unusual occurrences such as undue vibrating or heating of equipment to the TA and/or technical staff. If possible, switch the power off immediately.
7. Make sure all equipment is powered off at the end of each experiment.

Certain equipment can be turned on or used only by qualified operators:

• equipment in the machining facility ELW B103/111, Rodney Katz
• all equipment in the model-making workshop ELW B123, Rodney Katz
• MTS/laser welder in ELW B111, Rodney Katz
• impact tester in ELW A135, trained teaching assistant
• CNC machines in ELW B119, Rodney Katz
• laser cutting machine in ELW B118d; Rodney Katz/mech lab support
• 3D-printing machines in ELW B118d and B118a, mech lab support
• MTI machines in ELW A127, mech lab support
• wind tunnels in ELW A140, trained teaching assistant/ mech lab support

When handling electric wires, never use them as supports and never pull on live wires.

Do not use:

• equipment with frayed wires or cracked insulation
• equipment with damaged plugs or missing ground prongs
• receptacles with loose mountings and/or weak gripping force

Report these to the TA and/or mech lab support.

Avoid pulling plugs by the cord and avoid rolling equipment over power cords.

Be sure that line-powered equipment has 3-wire grounding cords. Make sure you know how to use the equipment properly. Ask for help and instruction when needed.

Report any electrical failure or heating of equipment to your instructor and/or technical staff. Switch the power off immediately if you smell overheated components or see smoke coming from any circuit or equipment.

Make sure all equipment is powered off at the end of each experiment.

If someone gets a serious electrical shock, dial 911 immediately. CPR will often revive the victims of high-voltage shock. Only qualified people should attempt CPR.

If a fire alarm sounds:

• secure any equipment you are using and switch off the power
• close windows and doors behind you as you leave; do not lock doors
• evacuate students from the lab and switch the power off
• leave the building using the recommended exits
• help anyone with mobility challenges
• move to our evacuation site (the opposite side of the Petch Building through the breezeway towards the Quad)
• follow the instructions of your emergency coordinators

DO NOT use elevators for evacuation. DO NOT re-enter the building until the fire department says to.

If you discover a fire, smoke or witness an explosion:

• shout for help and pull the nearest fire alarm
• call 911 and Campus Security (250-721-7599)
• if a small fire, try to put it out with available fire equipment
• if the fire is too large to handle, close the doors and windows behind you as you leave; do not lock the doors
• leave the building using the recommended exits
• help anyone with mobility challenges
• move to our evacuation site (the opposite side of the Petch Building through the breezeway towards the Quad)
• follow the instructions of your emergency coordinators
• stand by to identify yourself and provide information to the fire department

When handling any chemicals, always wear eye protection and gloves. After handling the chemical, replace and secure the lid or cap and place it back in its designated cabinet.

Report any chemical spill to the TA and/or technical staff, or:

• tend to any injuries if safe to do so, then call 911 and Campus Security (250-721-7599)
• secure the area and close the door
• pull the fire alarm to evacuate the building
• direct people away from the spill area

If indoors

Duck, cover and hold when you first feel the ground shake. Crouch low to the ground. Protect your head with your arms, seek cover and hold onto heavy furniture. Stay inside.

Move away from windows, shelves, heavy objects and furniture that may fall. Take cover under a table or a desk, or in a strong doorway.

In halls, stairways or other areas where there is no cover, move to an interior wall. Turn away from windows and kneel alongside the wall. Bend your head close to your knees and clasp your hands firmly behind your neck, covering the sides of your head with your elbows.

Do not use elevators. They are extremely vulnerable to damage from earthquakes.

When the shaking stops, floor emergency coordinators will direct people in evacuating the building. Move quickly through exits and away from buildings. Assemble away from gas, sewer and power lines.

If outdoors

Assemble at the department's emergency evacuation site (the opposite side of the Petch Building through the breezeway towards the Quad) or an open space away from buildings, trees and overhead power lines.

Lie down or crouch low to the ground and constantly survey the area for additional hazards.

From WorkSafeBC eye and face protection

Safety eyewear

A worker must wear properly fitting safety eyewear appropriate to the conditions of the workplace if handling or exposed to materials which are likely to injure or irritate the eyes. Properly fitting safety eyewear appropriate to the conditions of the workplace must be worn if a worker (a) has 20/200 or less vision in either eye, or is blind in either eye or (b) is working on or testing electrical equipment energized at a potential greater than 30 volts.

Prescription safety eyewear

Prescription safety eyewear must meet the requirements of CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z94.3-92, Industrial Eye and Face Protectors.

Bifocal and trifocal glass lenses must not be used if there is a danger of impact, unless they are worn behind impact-rated goggles or other eye protection acceptable to the Board.

If the use of polycarbonate or plastic prescription lenses is impracticable, due to the conditions of the workplace, and there is no danger of impact, workers may use prescription lenses made of treated safety glass meeting the requirements of ANSI Standard Z87.1-1989, Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection.

Side shields

Safety eyewear must be fitted with side shields when necessary for the safety of a worker.

Face protection

If there is a risk of face injury, suitable face protection must be worn.

Face protectors and non-prescription safety eyewear must meet the requirements of:

• CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z94.3-92, Industrial Eye and Face Protectors, or
• ANSI Standard Z87.1-1989, Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection

Contact lenses

Adequate precautions must be taken if a hazardous substance or condition may adversely affect a worker wearing contact lenses.

From WorkSafeBC protective equipment and clothing:

• the clothing of the worker must fit the body closely
• dangling neckwear, bracelets, wristwatches, rings or similar articles must not be worn
  • medical alert bracelets should be worn with transparent bands that hold them snugly to the skin
• head and facial hair must be confined, or worn at a length which will prevent it from being snagged or caught in the work process
• open-toed shoes and sandals must not be worn in the facility

UVic Discrimination and Harassment Prevention and Response Policy GV0205 states:

“Discrimination and harassment are prohibited at the University of Victoria. Members of the University Community have the right to work, study and participate in activities at the university in an environment free of Discrimination and Harassment. Eligible WorkSafeBC claimants also have a right to an environment free of workplace bullying or harassment as it is defined by regulations pursuant to the British Columbia Workers’ Compensation Act.”

If you or someone you know has experienced discrimination and/or harassment and there is an immediate health or safety concern, call 9-1-1. If the immediate health or safety concern is on campus, you should also call Campus Security at 250-721-7599. They are available 24/7 for information and support.

If you experience verbal or physical harassment, you should immediately stop work and report it to the department chair. You should also write an email outlining the harassment.

This lab is shared by all MECH students 24 hours a day. There are 45+ workstations which should be used in a considerate and professional manner.

• Computers should not be tampered with or used for non-course-related tasks.
• Software not licensed for use in this lab must not be installed on any machine.
• Afternoon lab use is prioritized and reserved for scheduled course sessions.
• Windows should be kept closed as much as possible.

Contact lab support at mech.it@uvic.ca.

This lab is used in MECH 460. Its CNC lathe and CNC mill can be operated only by or with the presence of the lab support person

Lab support: Rodney Katz, ELW B111, 721-250-8667

This lab is used for MECH 455 Instrumentation, MECH 458 Mechatronics, MECH 380 Automatic Control Engineering and MECH 285 Properties of Engineering Materials. Dangers in the lab include:

• burns from the heating elements, glass vials and molten lead (MECH 285)
• electric shock

This lab is used for MECH 220 and MECH 320 Solid Mechanics courses. The most dangerous piece of equipment there is the impact tester. The mass of the swinging pendulum is high. It will cause permanent injury to anything in its way. It should ONLY be operated by trained TAs who are experienced in its use and understand its safety aspects.

During its demonstrations, all students must stay well outside of the chained perimeter. Watch for:

• being brushed or impacted by the impact tester’s pendulum
• dropped weights on hands and feet

Lab support: Rocky Ulk - 250-721-7297 and Maryam Shakourisalim - 250-721-8938  

This lab is used for MECH 390 Energy Conversion and MECH 220’s tensile test experiment with MTI machines. It contains the sterling engine, air conditioning experiment (HVAC) and the MTI-10K machines.

The air conditioning (HVAC) apparatuses each have a boiler which is electrically heated.

All equipment in this lab should only be operated by trained and experienced TAs. Watch for:

• burns from the boiler on the air conditioning (HVAC) apparatuses
• loose/broken samples from the tensile test experiment with MTI-10 machines

This lab is used for MECH 345 Mechanics of Fluids I and MECH 395 Heat Transfer. It contains large equipment to monitor fluid flow. The most dangerous thing is the wind tunnel. Keep well away from the intake fan. Watch for:

• hair or clothes being sucked into the wind tunnel
• water flowing over the top of the tank in the water flume
• correct valve adjustments in the oil line

Lab support: Rocky Ulk - 250-721-7297 and Maryam Shakourisalim - 250-721-8938  

This lab is used for MECH 330 Introduction to Mechanical Vibration, MECH 420 Robotics and MECH 450F Sensors and Actuators. It contains electronic instrumentation and electromechanical apparatus. Watch for:

• electric shock
• rotating equipment

Lab support: Rocky Ulk - 250-721-7297 and Maryam Shakourisalim - 250-721-8938    

This is a working area consisting of the machine shops in ELW B111 and ELW B103. Both rooms contain major power and tools, which can present a very real physical danger when not used properly. The shop in ELW B111 is for use ONLY by support staff.

Room B103 is for use by students taking the MECH 200, 350, 400 and some 499 courses. You must first take a shop safety seminar and show proficiency in the use of hand tools, shop machinery and basic safety aspects.

Protective eyewear must be worn at all times.

Facility manager: Rodney Katz, ELW B111, 721-250-8667.

This room is for general use by undergraduate students taking the MECH 350, BME 350, MECH 400 and some 499 courses. It contains workbenches, hand tools, a laser cutting machine, 3D printers and a drill press for basic project design and construction. Safety glasses are supplied, and appropriate safety signs are posted.

Lab support: Rodney Katz, ELW B111, 721-250-8667 and Rocky Ulk - 250-721-7297