4 Safety Tips For Proper Use Of A Laser Cutter

laser cutter

While a laser cutter is a wonderfully useful and versatile tool for any workbench or studio, there are always inherent risks that are associated with the use of them. Like any piece of machinery, there needs to be some level of respect when it comes to the use and subsequent care and storage of the tool to ensure that safety requirements are maintained. This is not only applicable to a laser cutter, but to any tool you find in your workspace that requires a careful and considered approach.

The humble machine has been used for a great many things in our day-to-day lives that don’t often get thought of, from precision slicing of material to engraving on softer materials, they have a wide range of power capacities and sizes to choose from as well. Regardless of size or capacity, there should always be the following safety measures put into practice for your laser cutter.

1.   Proper PPE

The foremost safety measure to be utilised for your laser cutter should of course be the proper PPE, otherwise known as personal protective equipment. This is standard for a majority of the tools that require power and exude a great deal of energy in their use, in this instance there should always be some form of safety goggle being employed by the user to ensure matter and dangerous light does not cause irreparable damage to the eye. Proper hand protection is also a wise move to ensure there is a reduction in potential accidental burning.

The level of PPE you require will depend on the laser cutter model and its veritable strength, so it’s best to consult professionals before use to ensure you have the right PPE for the job.

2.   Training In Proper Usage

Having proper training in the correct use of the laser cutter is an essential aspect to ensuring safety is maintained throughout. This can be attained through various courses offered by the manufacturers of the machines themselves, as well as industry professionals who offer their services and qualified trainers. Having the adequate and proper education in how to use a laser cutter will pay off wildly in the long run, allowing you to properly understand the inner workings of the machine as well as increasing your proficiency in the usage.

3.   Clean Working Environment

Having a clean working environment is a must for ensuring the safety of your workspace, not only for obvious tripping hazards but also for the integrity of the atmosphere of your workspace. The tripping hazards are one thing, it also helps to ensure there are no dangerous hanging objects that can interfere or distract from focusing at the task at hand which is essential for any heavy machinery operation, especially a laser cutter.

4.   Emergency Provisions

Any workspace containing a laser cutter, or any type of machinery that has imminent danger with misuse should contain at least the basic provisions for emergencies. This includes signage that indicate the necessary PPE to be worn at all times for those coming into the workspace, a first aid kit in case of an emergency involving the laser cutter, as well as a safe area marked off for others in the vicinity to have a safe distance. These small but vital additions to the workspace will increase the safety of the workspace exponentially.

Using the tool for its intended purpose is only one small step towards a safe working environment, by taking the necessary precautions and training, you’ll have no issue with safely utilising your new laser cutter.

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Advantages for Using Corporate Team Building Activities

Group pf workers during corporate team building activities

There are businesses that like to believe professional departments just formulate coherent partnerships and engage their best work organically. This can be true in some rare instances, but there is often a need to work at the idea of team building.

Specialised corporate team building activities have been the centre of much debate across industry, detailing some fun and interesting tales where members get to see a new side of their colleagues and their employers. When the physical workplace feels too restrictive and constrained, it is beneficial for owners and managers to branch out their thinking and approach this strategy with the aid of some experienced guidance.

For those who partner up with specialised team builders on these projects, they will outline why the proposition makes sense in the short and long-term of the enterprise.

1) Having Fun

When businesses talk about buzzwords like “work-life balance,” we know what they are signalling by and large. There is no way that men and women can be 100% focused on their professional task for 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week. This is why corporate team building activities are used, providing a great excuse to just have fun and release some of that energy and exhaustion that is experienced in the workplace. Even participants who love their job can consider it a chore after a certain period of time and that release is critically important.

2) Building Trust

Whether it is through verbal or non-verbal modes of communication to striving for a victory against an opposing group or unbundling a problem, corporate team building activities are great ways of building trust before participants. We can all talk about strengths and weaknesses on a resume, but it is through these types of projects where men and women learn to trust their colleagues when they are thrown into these fun situations.

3) Facilitating Leadership Roles

There will be a range of different corporate team building activities that are on display for various groups, but a majority of these endeavours will require individuals to stand up and become leaders. This will come naturally to those in the upper echelon of the hierarchy, yet it might be a new experience for those at the operational and entry level of the enterprise.

4) Boosting Company Morale

A funny thing happens when men and women start to have fun around their colleagues through corporate team building activities – their morale is boosted. The pressure that people can find themselves in can become overwhelming, worrying about job security, performance reviews, integrating new expectations and fitting into environments that might not feel welcoming from the outset. The choice to use corporate team building activities makes sense from that standpoint, ensuring that staff have something to look forward to where they are not judged in professional spaces.

5) Customising Activities to Suit The Team

From mind games to hunts, tug-of-war encounters, sports, puzzles and any manner of engagements that are situated indoors or outdoors, corporate team building activities can be entirely customised to meet the needs of the client. If the goal is to introduce and familiarise new people into the group, to work on leadership goals, to break down barriers or just to be removed from the usual routine, organisations have the ability to design a program with these specialists according to their overall objectives and budget.

6) Embracing a Healthy Workplace Culture

When prospective staff members and stakeholders see that a corporation is taking these team building steps, they recognise that the organisation wants to uncover group potential and ensure that individuals are given every chance to succeed. There is no question that some people will be cynical about such a process, but others see it as a chance to actually build relationships, to learn more about others and to separate themselves from the grind of the 9-5 routine.

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