Clothing Laboratory Safety Guidelines

1. Safety in the Clothing Laboratory

2. Basic Classroom Safety • Place backpacks and other personal belongings under your table or chair. • Do not touch other students’ belongings. • Place all equipment and supplies in the appropriate containers at the end of the period. • Clean-up your area, before leaving the classroom. • Dispose of fabric scraps, thread pieces, papers in the trash cans. • Push chairs under the table before leaving the classroom.

3. Basic Sewing EquipmentSafety • Never put anything in your mouth. • Keep pins in a pin cushion; never in mouth or clothes • Keep shears and scissors closed when not in use • Carry scissors and other sharp objects with the points down • Never sew or cut things while walking. • Pass sharp objects handle first to the other person

4. Electrical Appliance Safety • Turn off appliances before plugging and unplugging • Be sure hands are dry when plugging and unplugging electrical appliances • Always plug and unplug appliances using the plug not the cord • Keep all cords out of areas where others may be walking • Unplug cords from outlets when not in use

5. Iron Safety • Only one person uses the iron at a time. • Maintain a safe distance (2 feet) while waiting your turn • Never touch a hot iron except by the handle • Keep fingers and face away from steam • Locate the iron cord so the iron will not be accidentally pulled off the ironing board • Do not iron over buttons and pins. • Turn off and unplug iron before adding water

6. Iron Safety (cont.) • Do not overfill iron with water; the water can boil out • Rest the iron on its heel when not in use, not flat down on sole plate • Place the iron on the wide end of the ironing board when not in use. • Turn off and unplug the iron after each use. • Do not try to catch a falling iron • Step back and away so that you do not get burnt from the hot water

7. Sewing Machine Safety • Use a slow speed for best accuracy and control when learning how to use the machine • Do not talk because you could become distracted and get hurt. • Keep fingers away from all moving parts, especially the needle • Do not lean your face close when stitching in case the needle breaks • Sit up straight with both feet on the floor. • Be sure presser foot is secure. A loose presser foot is dangerous because a needle could strike it and break.

8. Sewing Machine Safety (cont.) Sewing Machine Safety (cont.) • Do not use bent needles, a bent needle may strike metal and break. • Do not push or pull fabric while stitching; may cause the needle to break. • Pins should always be on the upper side of the fabric. • Do not sew over pins, stop and remove them. • Switch sewing machine to off before making any adjustments in the needle area (bobbin, presser foot, needle). • Turn all controls to off position before disconnecting the plug from the outlet.

9. Sewing Machine Safety (cont.) • Do not unplug by pulling on the cord; grasp by the plug. • When disconnecting the cord from the sewing machine, remove the plug from the outlet first then remove the cord from the machine. • If machine (thread) becomes jammed stop sewing and get help.

10. Fire Extinguisher • Located by the classroom door • ABC type of extinguisher for all types of fires • A type of extinguisher used for common combustibles • Wood, paper, fabric • B type extinguisher used for flammable liquids • Oil, gas, grease • C type extinguisher used for electrical fires • To use: • Pull pin • Aim at base of fire • Squeeze handle • Spray with sweeping motion

11. Fire Blanket • Used to extinguish fire when someone’s clothes or hair catch fire • Smothers fire by depriving it of oxygen • Made from wool which is a self-extinguishing fiber • To use • Pull handle to open case and remove blanket • Wrap blanket around victim • Pat to extinguish fire

12. Fire Drill/Evacuation Plan • Take belongings and exit building through NB-hall north gym exit, follow sidewalk and cross drive to grassy area (200 feet from building) • Stay together, attendance may need to be taken • If instructed to do so, (Evacuation) proceed to meeting area for your homeroom where attendance will be taken