Ask Before You Touch Policy

Purpose

The Ask Before You Touch policy establishes a clear expectation of respect, safety, and accountability within shared makerspace environments. Members must not touch, adjust, activate, or manipulate another member’s tools, materials, projects, or workstations without explicit permission.

Policy Statement

Members must always ask for and receive explicit permission before touching anything that belongs to another member. This includes tools, machines, materials, in‑progress projects, fixtures, jigs, clamps, and workstation setups.

Rationale

• Safety: Prevents accidental activation, misalignment, or injury.

• Respect: Honors personal ownership of work and creative processes.

• Accountability: Ensures the responsible member maintains control over their setup.

• Consistency: Supports a predictable and professional environment for all members.

Member Responsibilities

• Request permission before touching or adjusting another member’s equipment or project.

• Avoid making assumptions about whether a setup is incorrect, unsafe, or abandoned.

• Notify a Lead immediately if a setup appears to present an imminent hazard.

Examples of Prohibited Actions

• Adjusting clamps, jigs, or fixtures on someone else’s work.

• Changing machine settings, feeds, speeds, or calibration states.

• Moving materials or projects from workbenches, carts, or machines.

• Removing prints or parts from 3D printers, laser cutters, or CNC machines.

Exceptions

The only exceptions to this policy are situations involving imminent danger:

• Fire risk or active ignition.

• Machine actively damaging itself or the surrounding area.

• Immediate threat to member safety.

In these cases, members must intervene only to the extent necessary to stop the hazard, then notify a Lead as soon as possible.

Lead Guidance

Leads are expected to:

• Model Ask Before You Touch behavior.

• Intervene when witnessing violations.

• Document incidents when necessary, especially in high‑risk areas such as the machine shop.

• Reinforce the policy during member onboarding and training.

Summary

The Ask Before You Touch policy protects members, equipment, and projects by establishing a culture of respect and safety. By following this policy, members help maintain a professional, predictable, and collaborative environment throughout the makerspace.