Desert Woodcrafters at Robson Ranch

Shop Operating Procedures

The Shop Operating Procedures (SOP) are an adjunct to the Desert Woodcrafters Club Charter and Bylaws. The SOP is designed to implement daily operation of the Shop without the cumbersome requirements associated with changing the Charter and Bylaws. For expedience, the SOP may be implemented or changed as determined by the Board.

Hours of Shop Operation

        The Board determines the hours of Shop operation.

        Normal hours of Shop operation will be 9am to 3pm, Monday through Friday.

        The Vice President can adjust the hours of Shop operation to accommodate need.

        Members may use the Shop during non-scheduled hours if a Monitor is present.

Monitors

        A Monitor must be on duty for the Shop to be operational.

        A Member must complete a “Monitor Responsibilities” class to become a Monitor.

        Monitors must monitor at the Shop eight times each year and attend a “Monitor

        Responsibilities” class every even-numbered year in order to remain a Monitor.

        The Monitor is authorized to remove any Member from the Shop who, in the opinion of the Monitor, is not operating safely, or is conducting an operation in a hazardous manner.

        If necessary, the Monitor may cease all operation and close the Shop.

        The Monitor on duty may not work on personal projects.

Use of the Shop

        Upon entering the Shop each Member must sign-in and wear their name badge.

        Upon leaving the Shop each member must sign out and leave their name badge on the storage board.

        The Shop cannot be used to carry on any commercial endeavor. This is not to thwart the incidental personal sale of hand-crafted items for sale at craft fairs and hobby shows.

        Members desiring to develop products for a charitable organization must receive approval from the Board.

        Visitors to the shop must be escorted by the Monitor or a Monitor approved Member.

        The use of tobacco and alcohol products is prohibited in the Shop.

        Members impaired from alcohol, or prescription or illegal drugs are prohibited in the Shop.

Shop Safety

        Each Member is responsible for their own safety.

        Emergency information is to be posted by the Monitor desk.

        Safety equipment including face masks, ear protection and gloves are available.

        Long hair, loose fitting clothing and jewelry can reduce safety when using tools.

        Sandals and open-toed shoes are prohibited.

        Never interrupt or disturb a Member operating a tool.

        All injuries, even if inconsequential, must be reported to the Monitor.

         The Monitors view of Shop operations must not be obstructed.

        Corridors must remain unobstructed.

        Disconnect a tools power supply when adjusting, repairing, changing implements or cleaning.

        Never leave running tools unattended.

        Use of safety guards is recommended. If a guard is removed, it must be replaced before leaving the tool.

        Each Member must keep their work area clean and properly dispose of waste.

        Storage of flammable liquids is prohibited.

Shop Operations

        Metal (except for SOT-AZ flagpoles), glass (including glass block) or cement board (including Hardieplank™) is prohibited in the Shop except as ancillary parts of wood projects.

        Treated lumber, synthetic polymers (polyethylene and polypropylene (PVC)), and acrylics (Plexiglas™) may be worked on in the Shop, if approved by a Shop Manager.

        Material must be inspected for loose knots, sand, gravel, rocks, screws, nails, staples, concrete and debris before being worked on in the Shop.

        Overnight bench storage of projects is only permitted when a Member is working on a single project and will return the following morning to work on that project. If glued wood is left in a clamped state, a note should be attached to include the time when the project was clamped and the time when it can be unclamped.

         To minimize congestion at the glue-up tables, projects should be appropriately stored or taken home.

         Members cannot remove tools from the Shop unless authorized and signed out by the Monitor. Tools can only be signed out at the end of the day and must be signed in by the Monitor at the beginning of the following work day. The Member is responsible for damage and repair.

         Excess wood moisture, treated wood, metal (staples, screws and nails), flesh and other electrically conductive material may set the brake on the SawStop™. Once a Member activates the brake, both the blade and brake must be replaced, by a Shop Manager, at the expense of the Member.

         Lathe or CNC operation requires Club training/approval and certification.