Health, Safety and Equipment Use
Health, Safety and Equipment Use
This domain tests safe practice in the studio and the correct use of tools and machines. Expect questions on hazards, risk assessment, machine guards, PPE and emergencies. Safe practice is assessed in both written and practical work.
Core rules
- Risk assessment: identify hazard, who is at risk, likelihood and severity, controls, review. Hierarchy of control: eliminate, substitute, engineer, administrate, PPE.
- Sewing machines: guard the needle, keep fingers away, tie back hair, use the correct foot, unplug for maintenance, do not sew over pins.
- Irons: use a stand, check cords, ventilate, never leave unattended; steam can scald.
- Rotary cutters: cut away from the body, use a mat and ruler, retract the blade.
- Chemicals: dyes, mordants and solvents need ventilation, gloves, goggles and COSHH-style information.
- Electrical equipment must be PAT-tested; report damaged plugs and frayed cords.
Worked example
Dyeing cotton in a studio: assess dye powder inhalation, hot water burns and waste disposal. Controls: weigh powder in a fume hood or wear a mask, use gloves and goggles, label containers, neutralise and dispose according to local rules. The reasoned answer links hazard to control.
Traps
Wearing PPE as the only control; removing machine guards for speed; leaving hot irons; ignoring electrical checks; not reporting spills; using a machine without induction.