17. Health and Safety

• Scissors-
  for cutting paper, thin card, thin plastic sheet - ensure that scissors are sharp and strong enough to cut through the material. Keep fingers away from blades.
• Scalpel/Craft knife-
  for cutting/scoring paper, card, thin plastic sheet, thin board - use a safety rule with a raised edge. Keep blade against the edge of ruler and cut away from yourself.
• Cutting mats-
  suitable cutting surface for using scalpels - make sure it is on a flat surface.
• Rotary cutter-
  a guillitine, for cutting card, paper, etc -  use a safety ruler.
• Compass cutter-
  for cutting circles - ensure that you use it on a cutting mat, on a flat surface.
• Safety rule-
  to help make straight line cuts with a craft knife - hold firmly, etc.
• Reciprocating saw or fretsaw, 'Hegnar saw'-
  for cutting plastic, wood, board - eye protection.

Risk Assessment

• Risk- reducing the risk:
• Bags or equipment on the floor- make sure they are out of the way and that all areas are clear of obstructions.
• Using a craft knife- a sharp blade and with the correct safety ruler.
• Eye strain from using a computer- have a break from the computer every 20 minutes.
• Dust from a sanding machine- make sure that dust extraction and the dust guard are correct.
• Loose clothing while using a machine- use protective clothing with sleeves rolled up.

Safety and the Law

• Health and Saftey Executive- the government body responsible for ensuring that work places comply with health and safety at work laws.
• Warning sign- often a triangle which is bright yellow and has black lettering.
• 'Do not' sign- red circles with diagonal lines between them.
• 'Must do' sign- blue circles.

• Material - joins? - looks like - advantages - disadvantages
• Glue stick- card, wood - solid white stick - cheap, easy to use, safe - weak
• Polyvinyl acetate (PVA) - card, wood - white liquid - strong, safe, sets within 2 hours, colourless when dry - can 'ripple' thin card if too much is applied.
• Spray adhesive - paper, card - clear spray - quick, can be refixed easily - weak, expensive, a mask is needed.
• Balsa cement- balsa wood -  clear, smelly- quick-setting - needs to be in a well-ventilated area.
• Acrylic cement- acrylic - water - very quick - leaves marks.
• Epoxy resin- everything - gloopy light brown - very strong, takes 2 hrs to set - difficult to apply.
• Hot glue gun - most materials - thick, clear, stringy - quick to set - hands are easily burnt.
• Double-sided tape - paper, card, foamboard - clear or white - immediate strong join - can't reposition work.