Shop Safety

A shop is defined as any designated area where hazardous tools and machinery are used for fabricating materials, testing or conducting research including, but is not limited to machine shops, carpentry shops, art studios, scene shops, testing facilities and laboratories. The Shop Safety Program for UMass Amherst was developed in an effort to reduce the risk of injuries when working with potentially hazardous machinery on campus. Enrollment in the Shop Safety Program is required for all shops, including academic, research, and maintenance shops, on campus.

As a service to the University, Environmental Health & Safety will conduct:

• annual safety inspections of all shops
• hold annual Shop Safety Committee meetings
• provide technical and regulatory guidance to shop supervisors

If you manage a shop or are considering building a new shop you must enroll in this program. Submit information about your shop to AskEHS@umass.edu to learn more.

Mechanical Electrical Research Safety Training

Mechanical and Electrical Research Safety Training is required for anyone who works in a shop, with power tools, or other physically hazardous equipment.

• If you also work with chemicals of any kind, you must also take Lab Safety Training.
• If you work in the Art department, you should complete Art Safety Training instead of Lab Safety Training.