Shop Rules

The OCW is a shop that thrives on community, cooperation and respect. Please review our shop rules prior to getting involved in any activity at the shop.

These rules are compliant with the guidelines that the province and the city have issued to fight the spread of the COVID-19 virus. They are aimed at keeping everyone who uses the shop safe and healthy.

Safety is a top priority for us, and maintaining high safety standards is integral for the well-being of the shop and its occupants. Failure to adhere to these rules could be grounds for dismissal and revocation of membership or course activity. Please follow along for the good of us all.

  1. Do not enter the shop if you do not feel well, if you have any symptoms associated with Covid 19. or if you have any reason to think you have recently been in contact with anyone with the virus. Contact the shop if you cannot attend a class for any of these reasons.
  2. Never do anything you're not 100% confident in, or comfortable with. If you are unsure how to do something, or using a tool or machine you are unfamiliar with, ask a supervisor to help.
  3. Always be considerate, courteous and bring a good attitude to the shop. Listen to your supervisors as they’re here to make sure everyone can work safely and productively.
  4. Always wear eye protection when operating any machinery.
  5. Ensure hair, and any loose clothing is tied back when operating machinery. Remove any jewelry and rings.
  6. During and after working, maintain a clean environment, put all tools away and clean the machines and work space.
  7. All power and sanding tools must be operated with dust collection activated. Ensure blast gates are actually open on the machine you are using.
  8. Do not cut or sand metal or any synthetic materials on the woodshop tools.
  9. Never machine wood that is highly toxic, moldy, or contains lead paint.
  10. Never machine wood that is wet or contains any metal fragments or fasteners in it. If the SawStop brake is activated on the table saw due to a member cutting inappropriate wood without checking in with a supervisor in advance, the cost of replacement will be the member’s responsibility (approx $300). Any damage to any other tools that occurs as a result of poor quality wood, these charges could be transferred to members.
  11. Do not place food or anything wet (including containers, rags, limbs, sandwiches, coffees) on machine surfaces.
  12. If there are any issues with any equipment or machines, notify supervisors immediately and cease using that tool. DO NOT TROUBLESHOOT.
  13. Scrap wood should be placed in designated locations. Anything under 1 foot in length or very thin should be broken down and disposed of.
  14. Don’t disturb or interrupt others when they are operating power tools. Only intervene if they have asked for help.
  15. Ensure your work is put away in your designated shelf space. If your project or lumber is too large for your cubby, you may store it on the lumber rack or out of the way on the floor for two weeks. Longer major storage requires the rental of a large rack or the project must be removed from the shop.
  16. NEVER leave oily rags anywhere in the shop. Always make sure they are put away in the appropriate rag disposal bin. Failure to correctly dispose of oily rags is grounds for immediate dismissal.
  17. Do not bring in personal tools to lend to other members (i.e., your personal router). Personal tools are for personal use only and must be checked by a supervisor.
  18. Do not enter or work in the shop outside of designated member hours, even if the door happens to be unlocked.