Hackspaceinduction

Some of the tools at the Hackspace are potentially hazardous to use, for these tools members are required to have an induction before they can use them. Inductions provide the most basic information on how to safely and effectively use the simpler functions of the tools, we appreciate that some members may have professional experience on some of these tools and in this case please tell your induction provider and the induction may be very reduced and just cover any risks or procedures specific to rLab. Some tools have multiple levels of induction in order to cover more advanced uses of that tool without making the basic induction take too long, higher induction levels will introduce some of the more advanced features of the tools but as with all inductions are only intended to provide basic information on the capabilities of the tools and how to use them safely. Some members of rLab may be willing to offer more detailed tuition beyond basic induction level or offer guided practice sessions in exchange for beer money or assistance on their own projects.

For all tools you are only required to take level-1 induction before use, after that you may perform any task that you feel confident you can do safely, higher levels of induction may be useful to you in performing more advanced operations but are not required before doing tasks covered in them so long as you're confident of your ability to handle those tasks without risk to yourself, others, or the tool.

PLEASE NOTE : All induction providers are volunteers who are providing inductions to the best of their ability but are NOT qualified instructors. Inductions are provided on a best-effort basis but you and you alone are responsible for your safety while using the tools and for satisfying yourself that you can operate the tools safely. There are professional training courses available from various providers in Reading and the surrounding area if you feel they are appropriate for the level of work you intend to undertake. Reading these notes is NOT a substitute for an in-person induction.

Note for wiki editors : Please do not edit induction pages unless you are one of of the people that gives that induction

General induction script used by Gavin

Induction tour script

Our history:

• The Hackspace started as two guys sitting in a shed 8 years ago • Tom and Ryan had seen other hackspaces in London and other countries and were keen to start their own • They found some like-minded people, and initially the group met in a range of temporary venues, such as the Rising Sun arts centre, before taking a couple of rooms at a storage company in Woodley • Ultimately that did not work out, and the group took the bold step of moving here to Weldale Street • The building is owned by one of members – Tom – who is not just understanding about our needs, but positively incites us to ‘hack the space’ • Nonetheless, Tom has a mortgage to pay and the monthly rent on the building is £1200 • With only ~30 members when we first moved in, we were not covering the rent, and some members were dipping into their own pockets to make ends meet • Fortunately, with over 100 members we are now in a much stronger position – we can fully cover our costs • We do not receive any grants, we are not a charity, and therefore we are masters of our own destiny – we can do what we want

Governance:

• We are light on governance and have a level structure. There are no committees, no officers, and fundamentally no member is any more important than any other. • Three of our members are directors of a limited company - Reading Makerspace Ltd - that has been set up solely to provide us with sufficient legal identity to pay the rates, energy bills (which you can imagine are quite large), and buy things such as insurance • Our current directors are Ian, Tony and Andrew [point to photo board] • Members often describe our governance arrangements as a ‘do-ocracy’ – things get done by people on the basis of consensus • This is important – we are obviously happy to be financially self-sufficient, but we only achieved this position though the hard work of members • Put simply – this place would not exist without the ‘sweat equity’ invested by members over the years

Playing your part

• We do not employ anybody. The directors do not take any money out of the business.

• We do not, for instance, employ cleaners. • It is important that you clean up after yourself, ideally leaving your workspace in a better condition than you found it • If you do not clean up after yourself, other members will call you out on it – and you should do the same • Cleanliness is a Health and Safety issue. If we have a build-up of dust, or rubbish on the floor, it creates a hazard – a fire hazard and a slip hazard • So play your part in keeping the place clean

• Fundamentally we are a community. We share not just this building and the tools inside, but also our knowledge and skills • Our members are drawn from a wide range of backgrounds – engineers, designers, IT specialists, teachers – and as a group we are incredibly knowledgeable • As a member you will learn a lot, please play your part in sharing what you learn with other members

• A lot of the communication between the group happens on our Google Groups mailing list [provide link if necessary]. • It is generally a well-mannered group, though we occasionally have our disagreements. They tend to calm down as quickly as they flare up. Please think about how your message might come across before posting. • Your first post will be moderated by one of the directors – after which you will be able to post freely.

• We also encourage people to become involved in outreach activities

Diversity

• We are a diverse group – if you look around you will see our membership is drawn from a wide range of backgrounds, different races, genders, sexual orientation • Our diversity is important to us and we do not tolerate prejudice. • Full stop.

• There is a safeguarding policy on our wiki.

Your possessions

• We cannot take responsibility for things that you bring with you into the space • To date we have been very fortunate – we have had almost two hundred people as members, and so far have not had any thieves within the group, • but one day it may happen • We have CCTV, with footage stored securely • Please take care of your possessions while you are here • There are some guidelines on bringing things into the space on the wiki – please read them • We can also offer you a locker downstairs if there is anything that you would like to leave here between visits  

Health and Safety

• The most important point that I’ll make during this whole induction is this – you are responsible for your own health and safety whilst you are here at the space • We have some insurance, which fortunately has not been tested, and we hope it never will • However, if there was a serious incident here, it is likely that we would have to close the space down, and all of the effort that has been put into making this happen so far would be lost

• Taking responsibility for your Health and Safety while you are here means the following:

o Do not use a tool unless you are confident that you know, not just how to turn it on and off, but also how it might fail. o The example that I normally use is an angle-grinder – any monkey can pick up an angle grinder and turn it on, but is the guard in the right place? Is the disk fitted correctly? (remember these are shared tools) What would happen if it broke? Are you standing safely? If you are cutting metal, where are you spraying sparks? Onto wood-dust? Onto another member? o Best advice is to stay mindful – ‘in the moment’ – when you are using power tools o If you are at all uncertain, stop

o Do not use a tool that could hospitalise you whilst you are here on your own o We have a wide range of tools, including some that could seriously harm you o Make sure there is someone in the building to hear your screams and call an ambulance if necessary o The same thing applies to working with mains electricity

o Be aware of the impact that your work may be having on other members o If you think you might be endangering them – stop. o If you feel endangered by someone else’s work, ask them to stop and have a discussion about how you might adjust your work to remove the danger o Be civil and find a compromise

o Wear PPE o We have plenty of PPE downstairs and there is absolutely no excuse for not using it o We have gloves, aprons, glasses, masks, ear defenders – all there for your use o Bring your own if you prefer o But wear appropriate safety equipment for your activity o If you see another member not using PPE, feel free to interrupt them (safely) and urge them to wear the appropriate gear

Health and Safety tour

• I will now take you on a brief tour of the space and point out some of the hazards • [Point out fire extinguishers as you conduct tour] • [Remind people to leave air cleaner ON]

At front door • To open the front door, press the red button. [Demonstrate] • [Demonstrate fire alarm]

In workshop, in tool storage area • To your left there are a wide variety of tools, typically things that you might have at home or be able to buy at a DIY store • They are smaller than some of the other tools, yet still pose a hazard • Please make sure you know how to use them

• Ahead of you, are the more exotic tools – things like thicknessers, belt-sanders, welding equipment, wood-turning equipment and a wide range of different ways of removing digits • If you do not know how to use them, we have members that can show you how, including Ian, who used to be a CDT teacher

• In the cupboard by the door, there is first aid equipment [open door and show them] • Please do not stack things in front of the first aid cupboard • On the back of the door, there are eye-baths in case you get something in your eye • There is a bleeding control kit – we have a member that is also a paramedic, who will be happy to give you advanced first aid train if you would like • On the top shelf, there are cold-presses in case you take a knock • In the pouch, there are plasters, bandages etc – all the things that you would expect to see in a first aid kit

In workshop, by chemical store • Here is the chemical store – it contains strong acids, strong alcohols (not for drinking) and solvents • Everything in the cupboard is (a) labelled, and (b) recorded on a register • This is so that if there was ever a fire, we would be able to tell the fire brigade exactly what is in the cupboard so that they could take precautions • If you bring some chemicals in, please ensure that they are added to the register • If you are ensure how to use a chemical, read the label and research on the internet – it will tell you what precautions you need to take • We are not licensed to store explosive toxins or pre-cursors – this includes chemicals such as higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. Please do not bring such chemicals into the space • Top tip – when you open the cupboard, step back for a moment to let the fumes escape, else you will get a face full of esthers

In workshop, by lathe • This is the metal lathe. It has three-phase power, and is a powerful high-precision machine • [Point at and explain the yellow signs above the lathe] • There is an emergency stop button • We ask members not to use it unless they have had a familiarisation session and demonstrated their competence • We can provide training, but we cannot certify you as trained – it is still incumbent on you to satisfy yourself that you are fit to use the machine

• Here, to the left of the lathe, is the PPE equipment [point] – use it

In workshop, at fire exit • Here is the fire exit - please keep the space in front of it clear [demonstrate opening] • The fire escape route is round the back of the building, and round the side • Please keep the escape route clear of objects • Behind the sign there is barbed wire. If the sign is missing, there is a risk that you might get caught on it, so take a sharp left if you have to flee the building

In workshop, by stairs • Here is the welding equipment and brazing hearth, along with a bottle of gas • If you are unfamiliar of the risks associated with using them, then again, we can provide training • Please keep the space at the bottom of the stairs clear of objects

In workshop, in loading bay • Here is the tablesaw – another powerful and high precision piece of equipment. It has three-phase power [point to power socket] • The hazard here is pretty clear – it has a large spinning blade in the top. • It has dust extraction fitted, which will collect much of the dust the you will create - please use it • Again, we ask that you do not use the tablesaw unless you have had a familiarisation session

• The distribution units are here on the wall. If you trip the power, you will have to reset with the key.

• Also, here is the light switch for the loading bay, next to the e-stop

• And then finally, on the wall there is the Thien Separator – which you can use to hoover up the dust that you make. There also blue Nilfisk vacuums around [find one] – they are very good at sucking up dust as well. Please clear up all of the dust that you make before you leave.

In small machine room • In here, we have the laser cutters and the 3d printer • You will need to take training on the laser cutter before you can use it. This is in part to protect what is an expensive piece of equipment, but also because it is a fire hazard – it burns through things with a laser-beam • Please do not leave either the laser cutters or the 3d printer unattended when they are working. Either can catch fire. I know that waiting for a 3d print can be boring, and it would be tempting to pop out and get some lunch, but it would be a shame if you were to return to find that the building has burnt down.

Main room upstairs • Finally, here is the main room. In here we have soldering irons and reflow stations, they get hot. Please make sure that you pick the soldering irons and heat guns by the right end. Be aware that knocking the heat gun off its cradle may cause to to start blowing very hot air

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Payment

• Over here on the wall, there are our bank details. • Our preference, because it easier to reconcile transactions, is that you pay by standing order • If you do, please make sure that you put YOUR name – repeat YOUR name – in the reference field, else we will not know how has paid us • You can set up the payment to leave your account on a day that suits you – you don’t have to pay us immediately. If you want to set it up to come out of your account on the day after you get paid, that’s fine. • Just make sure that you are making regular, monthly payments else we will cancel your card

• The majority of our members pay £25 per month • However we work on the principle that you pay what it is worth to you. If for instance, you are away for part of the year, you might want to pro-rate your payment to reflect this • If you are out of work, on benefits, and are less able to pay, we are open to you making a smaller contribution • Similarly, if you hit hard times, talk to us about it • We would rather have the member than the money – but you will have to make a payment, even if only a nominal amount

Sign-up

• Before taking your details with an online form, we ask you to read this page on our wiki. Much of this I have already said, but I’d be grateful if you could read it and confirm that you understand it before we sign you up

[Step 1]

• [The sign-up page is here. You may need to click past warnings as the https certificate has expired. You will need a laptop with a webcam]

• Your details will be encrypted and stored securely by the directors. • Please ensure that you put the right details in the right fields

• [If necessary, show them how to take a picture. Ask for photo ID with address on it – check against details entered. Check email address is sensible. Get card from drawer. Select correct card ID from drop down list. Cross fingers, press submit button. You should get a thank you pop-up]

• [Take member to front door. Brace door open against your foot. In quick succession, place your card, their card, and then your card against the reading zone. Test their card has been activated by putting it in zone again]

• [If successful, close door, give card to member and invite them to open it with their card. If unsuccessful, repeat from step 1 and email directors with details of faulty card]

• Congratulations, and welcome to Reading Hackspace. Your card will give you 24/7 access to the space. Please treat as you would your keys – so not write rLab or our address on it! Keep it safe