Hackspaceinduction

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 150 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
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 and despite it's sometimes contentious debates you'll miss out on a lot of the more interesting stuff that happens at the lab if you're not on there.
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

** 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.

- 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?
- Best advice is to stay mindful – ‘in the moment’ – when you are using power tools
- If you are at all uncertain, stop

** Do not use a tool that could hospitalise you whilst you are here on your own

- We have a wide range of tools, including some that could seriously harm you
- Make sure there is someone in the building to hear your screams and call an ambulance if necessary
- The same thing applies to working with mains electricity

** Be aware of the impact that your work may be having on other members

- If you think you might be endangering them – stop.
- 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
- Be civil and find a compromise

** Wear PPE

- We have plenty of PPE downstairs and there is absolutely no excuse for not using it
- We have gloves, aprons, glasses, masks, ear defenders – all there for your use
- Bring your own if you prefer, but wear appropriate safety equipment for your activity
- If you see another member not using PPE, feel free to interrupt them (safely) and urge them to wear the appropriate gear
- If you think that we need more or different PPE then start a discussion with the group about it, it's normally very easy to get the purchase of new PPE agreed

Health and Safety tour

I will now take you on a brief tour of the space and point out some of the hazards
[Why I am telling you this stuff]
[Point out fire extinguishers as you conduct tour, and show how to use]

At front door

[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
A lot of tools here make dust so above the benches there's an air cleaner, please turn it on whenever you're working down here, the remote is by the door. It uses next to no power so it's OK to leave it running on the timer when you leave.
By the door is the honesty box [point it out], most tools are free to use but usage fees for those downstairs tools that have them go in there.
If you're using a lot of nuts, bolts, sandpaper, other small consumables then consider donating a few pence but it's not compulsory unless you're using a hell of a lot
Here we also have the drill press, it's a high powered 3-phase machine and will quite happily wrap you around the spindle if you get careless with it
This is the Boxford CNC Mill, it's a complicated and expensive tool, and we ask that you attend a familiarisation session before trying to use it. To be honest you're probably more of a threat to it than it is to you, but it's still possible to get hurt if you use it wrong enough.

In workshop, by chemical store

Here is the chemical store
It is split across 2 cupboards
- The Flammable materials store is under the sink here, it contains strong alcohols (not for drinking), solvents, flammable resins etc.
- The flammables cupboard is not locked, but must be kept closed whenever you're not actually taking something out of it.
- The corrosive materials store is over there under the bench, it contains strong acids, caustic alkalies and other corrosive materials
- The corrosives cupboard is kept locked and you'll have to ask a director for the key if you need access
Everything in the cupboards 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 want to bring some chemicals in, please ensure that they are cleared with the people looking after then chemicals and 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 explosives, 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 fumes
Opposite the sink and chemical cupboard we have the chop saws and the linisher
This one [points to left one] is for metal, the other one is for wood
They throw sparks or chips around the workshop, if mis-used they can throw your entire work piece at you, inductions are required for the chopsaws but not the linisher
Under the chop saws here [points it out] is the store for scrap timber. If you have offcuts big enough to be useful please put them here, if you want to use something here they're free-for-all, take whatever you need but please consider a donation if that's a lot.

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
The PPE equipment is kept by the main door [point] – use it
Opposite the Lathe is the pedestal grinder that we use for sharpening lathe tools
It has 2 grinding wheels that when spinning have the energy of small bomb and can explode if abused, we ask members not to use it unless they're thoroughly familiar with grinding wheel safety
By the side of the lathe here [points it out] is the store for metal offcuts and larger bits are kept under the sticking&slipping shelves. If you have offcuts big enough to be useful to people please put them here, if you want to use something here they're free, take whatever you need.

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, the forge, the compressor and the blasting cabinet, along with a bottles of gas
If you are unfamiliar of the risks associated with using them, then again, we can provide training, the forge and welder require it.
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.
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. Around the workshop you may have noticed the red emergency stop buttons on the walls, if pressed they shut off all power to all the sockets down here but not to the large 3-phase tools. If you trip the power, you will have to reset with the key [point to key].
Also, here is the light switch for the loading bay, next to the e-stop
There are blue scheppauge vacuums around [find one] that are ment specifically for wood dust – as well as a variety of other vacuums and brooms. Please clear up all of the dust that you make before you leave.

In small machine room

In here, we have the laser cutter.
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 the laser cutters unattended when they are working. It can catch fire.

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
The 3D printer and hot-glue guns are also kept in this room, neither is likely to cause a fire but they could injure you if you're not careful with them. Hot glue is obviously hot and can burn skin. The 3D printer has parts that get up to 260C as well as numerous pinch points where a finger could get caught.
Nobody should ever be leaving live circuits unattended, and should give clear warning if they're working with mains power
That said... Never touch a circuit or project unless you've checked it's completely de-energized and
Don't plug anything in unless you've checked it's safe to do so.

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 who 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

[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