Lab Safety

Upon passing the lab safety test, you will be issued a lab ID card. That card must be used to gain entry to the lab for independent work.

To earn independent access to the makerspace before school or during lunch, you must pass the General Safety Test with a perfect 100% score. There is zero margin for error when in the presence of or operating industrial-grade creative equipment.

Section 1: The Locked-Door & Entry Protocol

Because this lab is an elite production environment, the door remains locked outside of standard class periods. To gain entry for an independent booking, you must follow the Check-In Routine:

1. Ring the video doorbell next to the door. Your face will appear on the lab's internal monitor.

2. A TA or Mr. Honma will cross-check your name against the live digital calendar schedule. If you have reserved a block, you will be buzzed in.

3. You may never slip into the lab behind someone else, slide through an open door, or bring non-certified friends inside to hang out. If you do not have a confirmed calendar booking, you will be turned away.

4. Using the lab is a deliberate, planned action, not a spur of the moment planless desire.

Section 2: Food, Drinks, and Dress Code

We treat you like professional designers, which means our studio rules reflect modern workspaces:

• You are permitted to have food, snacks, and drinks while working at the 25 M1 iMacs or 8 Esports Windows PCs. Clean up your trash when done, and remember that all food waste needs to be disposed of in the trash can outside the lab.

• Absolutely zero food, candy, or liquids are allowed near the 3D printers, laser cutters, heat presses, or inside the audio recording booths. One spilled drink can instantly destroy thousands of dollars of precision gear.

• Before stepping into the fabrication or tool areas, you must roll up long sleeves, tie back long hair, remove dangling jewelry, and securely tuck in loose hoodie strings or ID lanyards. No backpacks in those areas! Also, I can't believe I have to say this, but no barefeet in the lab. 

Section 3: Machine Operations

Part of working independently is being responsible for your equipment.

• You are strictly forbidden from leaving a running laser cutter or heat press unattended to go to the bathroom, talk to a classmate, or take a nap.

• If equipment starts making a grinding noise, emitting an unusual smell, or flashing an error code, immediately pause the job and notify Mr. Honma. Never ignore a machine error or try to force it to finish.

Section 4: Emergency Protocols & Studio Resets

Safety and organization keep the makerspace functional for the entire campus.

• If a flare-up occurs inside a laser cutter or a fire starts on a heat press platen, keep the laser lid closed to starve it of oxygen, immediately yell for Mr. Honma or a TA, and locate the nearest fire blanket/extinguisher. Never pour a personal water bottle onto electrical equipment/fires.

• You must clean your workspace, discard vinyl or cardstock scraps, vacuum up debris with the Minivac, and return all tools to their exact labeled homes *before* you leave. 

The Two-Strikes Accountability System

To protect our equipment and ensure fair access for all artists, rule violations are logged on a master studio sheet. Accumulating two official strikes results in an automatic two-week suspension from independent booking privileges/lab use.

Some Examples of How to Earn an Automatic Strike:

• Failing to show up within the first 5 minutes of your booked calendar slot, or failing to cancel a reservation at least 12 hours in advance.

• Walking out of the lab without cleaning your workspace.

• Bringing food/drinks into a banned zone, or sneaking unapproved guests into the lab.

• Safety violations are automatic two strikes.

The most important rule above all others is simple: We listen to Mr. Honma the first time.