Operations Manual of the PSHSWVC MakerSpace Center
by
ALBERTO G. TANOY
A. Rationale
Digital fabrication capabilities can be integrated
into STEM courses using equipment found in low-
tech and hi-tech workshops. In most cases, teachers
working with students on special projects or
researches identifies a need for access to
workshops/laboratory that are stand-alone entities
not tied to any department or institutional units. For
this reason, access to this facilities help facilitates
applied learning with students working in
interdisciplinary teams and fast turn-around times.
Easy access fits with agile production principles and
removes barriers needed to implement goals to
“expand early and ongoing experiential learning
including applied research and entrepreneurship”
(UW-Stout, 2009). The data on students' use of this
“spaces” (workshops) may be correlated with
recruitment and retention data to examine the
impact these innovation hub had in attracting and
keeping students interested in STEM related
careers.
In line with this, research is part of the core
program of the K-12 curriculum at PSHS-WV. The
program develops the investigative skills of the
scholars. Scholars are given research opportunities
in the science, technology, engineering and math
(STEM). Scholars are introduced to research
principles during their Grade 10 year and
culminates in writing a scientific paper in their
senior high years. Successful researches are
competed in the national science fair and even in
the International Science and Engineering Fair.
Also, by targeting the needs of the local
communities and K-12 schools, the MakerSpace
Center has the potential to provide an avenue for
economic development and serve as a showcase for
individuals interested in accessing science,
technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
within their communities. Other institutions that
lack design and technology resources can bring
their personnel and/or students to the Center to
expose them to such activities. Integrating these
experiences into product design and pre-
engineering courses allows K-12 students to use
digital fabrication equipment that they might not be
able to afford. Additionally, the Center could provide
the design communities with implementation
guidelines and consulting help enabling them to
create their own “MakerSpaces” and spur economic
development.
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The design and make community is considered as
the Center’s stakeholders termed as “Makers”.
Safety is considered as the principal goal in every
activity at the Center vis-a-vis the development of
positive attitudes and work values. Everyone
utilizing the Center facilities must take an active
role in initiating preventive measures to control
these hazards as safety is an integral part of all
programs in which there is a risk of injury or health
in the academic, research and service areas. The
cooperation and support of all is highly encouraged
to attain success of the program.
B. The Center's Mission
The Center will promote collaboration in conducting
research studies utilizing fabrication tools and open
software applications to facilitate the exchange of
ideas and of designs. Specifically, the PSHSWV
MakerSpace Center shall:
 B.1 facilitate locally-driven innovative
solutions among STEM institutions through
product design and development;
 B.2 utilize government institutions, as well
as K-12 partners in conjunction with other
makerspaces to create experiences and
exposure to integrated STEM curriculum;
 B.3 facilitate the best practices in creating
education pipelines to STEM careers and
other related experiential learning; and
 B.4 develop and fabricate product
prototypes;
The Center will be located on the ground floor of the
Academic Building and is a design and technology
workshop support, and research facility in the
design, exploration and investigation of material
research including wood, metals, plastics and other
engineering materials. It will play an integral role in
the STEM research work supporting
experimentation with materials, fabrication and
embedded systems.
The Center will be equipped with state of the art
CNC rapid prototyping machines, including a laser
cutter, 3-axis router, mill, 3D scanner, vinyl cutter
and 3D printer. It will be manage by the Center
Officer, and is staffed by the Coordinator and
Technicians, who instruct and guide stakeholders in
the use of the equipment. The MakerSpace contains
potential safety hazards. With proper control,
however, these hazards can be eliminated. This
manual is intended to outline the operation and
basic safety requirements of the Center.
C. Management Responsibilities
C.1 Center Officer (CO)
The responsibility for implementation of these
procedures rests with the Center Officer. The CO
has overall responsibility for ensuring that
occupational health and safety standards and
practices are implemented and maintained in the
facility. To achieve compliance, the CO should:
C.1.1- Ensure that users and stakeholders receive
the appropriate information, instruction and
training necessary for them to use the equipment
safely;
C.1.2- Ensure that all users and stakeholders
receive an induction that includes information
pertaining to emergency response procedures
and personnel;
C.1.3- Ensure that the facilities and equipment
provided for participants are safe and suitable
for the types of work to be carried out;
C.1.4- Ensure that adequate financial provisions are
made for occupational health and safety
equipment and materials and the maintenance of
occupational health and safety standards;
C.1.5- Ensure that hazard identification and risk
assessment procedures are developed,
documented and maintained for the use,
handling, storage, transport and disposal of
equipment, materials and substances and that
appropriate risk controls are implemented and
maintained;
C.1.6- Ensure that a properly trained person is
present in the facility at all times when
equipment is to be used by participants.
C.2 Center Coordinator (CC)
As the person responsible for the running of
MakerSpace Center and its safe use by participants,
the CC is expected to:
C.2.1- Actively practice and develop among users
and stakeholders the proper attitudes towards
occupational health and safety matters;
C.2.2- Control the risks associated with the work
that they supervise using a documented risk
management process;
C.2.3- Ensure that safe work practices are
developed and maintained at all times;
C.2.4- Arrange for users to be instructed about safe
and healthy work procedures, and ensure that
they are fully informed about particular hazards,
and how to avoid, eliminate or minimize them;
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C.2.5- Ensure that good housekeeping standards
(5S/5C) are developed and maintained in the
areas under their control;
C.2.6- Ensure that users and stakeholders under
their supervision use safety equipment provided
in a correct manner;
C.2.7- Ensure that all incidents, hazards and 'near
miss' incidents that occur are reported using
the incident report form.
D. Users and Stakeholders
All users and stakeholders who undertake work
in the Center must take reasonable care of
their own health and safety and the health and
safety of others by:
D.1- Taking action to avoid, eliminate or minimize
hazards of which they are aware;
D.2- Complying with all occupational health and
safety instructions, policies, and procedures;
D.3- Making proper use of all safety devices and
personal protective equipment;
D.4- Complying with the instructions given by the
CC;
D.5- Not willfully placing at risk the health and
safety of any other person;
D.6- Seeking information or advice where necessary
before carrying out new or unfamiliar work;
D.7- Maintaining dress standards appropriate for
the work being done.
D.8- Wearing of appropriate protective clothing and
footwear at all times;
D.9- Consuming or storing food and drink in
designated areas. Food is strictly forbidden in
the Center.
D.10- Being familiar with emergency and evacuation
procedures and the location of, and if
appropriately trained, in the use of, emergency
equipment;
D.11- Reporting all incidents, hazards and “near
miss” incidents that occur using the incident
report form.
E. Special Personal Conditions
The Center requires any user and stakeholder
with a medical condition to consult with their
personal physician prior to using the Center.
The PSHSWVC does not assume responsibility
for any harm that might occur to anyone as a
result of prior medical condition. Should such a
medical condition be present, a doctor’s
approval in writing must be provided to the
Center.
Note: You may sign your name/initial next to each
condition that may apply to you after reading
this information. Inform the Coordinator
immediately if you are sensitive to the
following or have issues with any of the
 following. It will be your responsibility to
inform the CC each time you enter the Center.
E.1- Dust allergies.
E.2- Latex allergies
E.3- Any other allergies that may be present.
E.4- Working improperly. (If the Coordinator notices
you working improperly, they may physically
move you for guidance or safety purposes.)
E.5- Loud background noises and/or commotion
caused by machines.
E.6- Any other need that may require special
attention.
F. Safe Conduct
The following recommendations detail the
standard behavior for all personnel working
within the Center:
F.1- Never adopt a casual attitude in the Center and
always be conscious of the potential hazards.
F.2- Ensure that personal clothing is suitable to the
workshop conditions, e.g. enclosed footwear.
Sandals, tsinelas or open footwear should not
be worn in the workshop area. Singlets, tank
tops or similar clothing are not suitable for
wearing in the workshop.
F.3- Always wear eye protection when using power
operated hand or machine tools, or while
performing physical tests that could lead to eye
damage.
F.4- Use protective clothing and devices appropriate
to the type of operation being carried out,
giving due consideration to the work being
carried out in the vicinity.
F.5- Never run in the workshop or any part of the
Center.
F.6- Never indulge in reckless behavior in the
workshop.
F.7- Always exercise care when opening and closing
doors and entering or leaving the Center.
F.8- Do not carry out any work in isolation in the
Center; ensure that at least a second person is
within call.
F.9- Do not handle, store or consume food or drink
in the workshop.
F.10- Do not smoke within any campus building.
F.11- Regard all substances as hazardous unless
there is definite information to the contrary.
F.12- Before any work is carried out in the Center,
permission must be obtained from the CO or
CC. Never undertake any work unless the
potential hazards of the operation are known
as precisely as possible, and the appropriate
safety precautions are adopted.
F.13- Take additional care when carrying or moving
any potentially hazardous material or
substance.
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F.14- Keep all fire-escape routes and access to
firefighting equipment completely clear at all
times.
F.15- Label all safety equipment and maintain it in
good operating condition.
F.16- Check and inspect safety equipment for
correct operation in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions and report to the
CC any requirement for maintenance. First aid
kits are available near the wash areas.
F.17- Ensure that all safety equipment remains
accessible to the FabLab personnel at all times.
G. Housekeeping
Housekeeping is an important component in
the Center to ensure that risks of injury from
potential hazards in the environment are
controlled. All users must adhere to the
standards of 5S/5C in good housekeeping. The
following precautions are to be taken to ensure
the safety of personnel within workshop:
G.1- Floors are to be kept tidy and dry.
G.2- Benches are to be kept clean and free from
chemicals and apparatus that are not being
used.
G.3- Aisles and exits are to be kept free from
obstructions. Bottles and glassware are to be
kept off the floor.
G.4- Access to all emergency equipment (fire
extinguishers, first aid kits) is to be kept free
from obstruction.
G.5- Work areas and equipment are to be thoroughly
cleaned after use. If last to leave the workshop,
make sure all equipment is turned off.
H. Emergency Procedures
In the event of fire or other emergency that
may endanger MakerSpace users the following
procedures apply in the event of a fire:
H.1- Alert others in the immediate area;
H.2- Call security and inform them of the fire and its
location;
H.3- When an alarm is raised proceed quickly to the
nearest exit;
H.4- After leaving the building proceed as directed
to the assembly area (open court area). Do not
return to the building until the "All Clear" is
given by the authorities.
I. Fire Extinguishers
I.1- Fire extinguishers are provided in the Center to
extinguish minor fires only.
I.2- If there is any risk from the fire, the building
should be evacuated.
I.3- Before using a fire extinguisher read the
instructions ensuring that it is appropriate to
the type of fire.
I.4- Familiarize yourself with the types of fire
extinguishers in the Center and have a
preformed idea of which should be used in
likely situations.
I.5- The Carbon Dioxide Extinguisher [CO2] is color
coded red with a black band. It is for use on
electrical- and flammable-liquids fire. It should
be noted that this extinguisher can be safely
used on all types of fires, however when gas
dissipates reignition can take place.
J. Center’s Guests and Visitors
J.1- Any individual who has completed the
requirements for access may accompany the
Center guests and visitors. They are
responsible for that guest.
J.2- Guests and visitors are not permitted to use any
machines or tools and are not allowed in the
machine use areas.
J.3- Visits must be scheduled and approved by the
CO and/or CC. Visits should be as brief as
possible.
K. Center’s Use and Safety Training
K.1- In order to use the workshop, users and
stakeholders must attend Safety Use and
Orientation Training, sign and enroll the policy
form, and pass all testing requirements. Upon
completion, users will gain entry pass access to
the Center.
K.2- Any student entering the workshop will be
required to verify that they have completed all
required safety training. Access to the Center
can be revoked if a “maker” is found breaking
any of the rules or not following the Center
protocols.
K.3- To facilitate the smooth flow of workshop use,
stakeholders will be requested to book their
intention to use the facilities in advance. A
request form will be available at the counter or
they may log their request online.
L. Test Requirements
L.1- All users must complete the Use and Safety
Training module to gain access to the Center
facilities and become certified.
L.2- The Center certification consists of:
L.2.1 -attending the Use and Safety session;
L.2.2 -reading and completing the Safety
policy;
L.2.3 -successfully completing the written test;
L.2.4 -demonstrating safe practices during the
skills tests on selected pieces of equipment.
L.3- Test scores must be 80% or greater to gain
access.
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L.4- Users can take the test a maximum of two times
before they have to re-take training.
L.5- The Safety Training schedule will be made
available by the CC. Individuals must receive
additional training for machines not included in
the standard orientation.
L.6- Certification is good for three years from date
of signed Safety Agreement Form.
M. Center’s Occupancy Limit
M.1 -In order to maintain a safe work environment,
strict user limits will be enforced. Faculty need
to be aware of this limit when planning to use
facilities and should utilize some type of
rotation or other strategy to avoid exceeding
the occupancy limit.
M.2 -The maximum number of individuals allowed to
work in the workshop at any given time is 15
students per staff.
N. Reserving the Center for Class Use
N.1 -At least one weeks’ notice must be given to
reserve the workshop for class use and should
include a brief proposal. This includes
demonstrations and student use.
N.2 -In order to ensure that there are sufficient
open workhop hours for all users, only one
class per day may reserve the facilities.
N.3 -A trained monitor must be present at all times
while students are working.
N.4 -When the workshop is reserved for a class, it is
closed to other students.
N.5 - Open workshop hours will be posted on the
bulletin board on a quarterly basis.
N.6 -If the workshop is reserved for a class, there
are no open hours during that time.
N.7 - At the discretion of the CC, the workshop may
be closed.
N.8 - If the School is closed, so is the Center. Staff
absence may cause closure of the Center.
N.9 -The priority users for the Open Hours are
STEM individuals coming from Grades 10-12
Senior high years.
O. After Hours Access
O.1 -There is no opportunity for after-hours access
to the Center. This includes working late after
the Center is due to close.
O.2 - Any jobs on either a 3D printer or laser cutter
must not commence unless there is time for it
to complete prior to the Center closing time.
O.3 - Any jobs still running at closing time must be
terminated and commenced again when there
is time enough available. The Center staff are
not authorized to extend this time schedule.

P. Sustainability
P.1 - The Center's capacity to maintain its facilities
lies heavily on the MOOE that the school is
receiving or may generate.
P.2 - The recurring costs will be sustained through
savings based upon the materials used while
replacement costs will be based upon expected
lifespan of equipment, annual maintenance and
repairs.
P.3 - A projection and estimate of Center’s workshop
usage will be based upon the statistics derive
from the stakeholders. Initial projection of 300
jobs per quarter for the machines is estimated
to be booked once the Center will be ready. For
instance, it is assumed that in a three-year
lifespan, the annual maintenance costs for a 3D
printer is PhP10,000 with inclusion of the
current prices of using plastic. The Center
needs to charge P10.00 per gram and/or
PhP300.00 per cubic inch to sustain the 3D
printers. So, a standard 1/4”X2”X2” product
will cost P300 for a higher resolution print.
P.4 - All charges will be evaluated every six months
in order to address fluctuation in material and
power costs.
Q. General Safety Guidelines, Policies and
Procedures:
Q.1 - All users and stakeholders are advised to learn
to follow practices and procedures that will
prevent injuries to yourselves and others.
Q.2 - Develop a good attitude toward safety. This
means that you have a strong feeling toward
the importance of safety and are willing to give
time and attention to learning the safest way to
perform your work. It means that you will be
certain to work carefully and follow the rules–
even when no one is directly watching you.
Q.3 - Carefully study the safety rules which follow.
The Center Coordinator may also recommend
some additional rules. If you follow the rules
and directions carefully, many of them will soon
become safety habits that you will perform
automatically.
Q.4 - Please note that experience in a workshop
does not equal good safety awareness. Many
accidents occur not to beginners but from
experienced workers that feel more
comfortable in the workshop and therefore
become more casual in their approach to safety
guidelines.
Q.5 - NEVER be afraid to ask a supervisor for help.
Q.6 - NEVER use a new machine without first asking
for assistance from a supervisor.
Q.7 - All tools must remain in the FabLab at all times
and may NOT be checked out. At no point will
tools will be allowed outside of the Center and
its adjacent support areas.
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Q.8 - Center access is open to all PSHSWVC
constituents (scholars, faculty and staff) during
open workshop hours or by appointment to
work on research related projects.
Q.9 - Faculty and staff members and students from
other institutions like State Universities and
Colleges may use the Center upon written
request and written approval of the Center
Officer. The use is limited to research and
development of course related material only.
Q.10 - All users must attend a Safety Training
session, pass the safety test and perform and
pass skills tests on selected digital fabrication
tools to become certified.
Q.11 - Under no circumstances will anyone be
allowed to have extended usage outside of
standard operating hours. Center access may
be limited during peak times. Those who use
the facilities must fill out a record of use form
at time of use. The Record of Use form will be
available at the Center.
Q.12 - Do not experiment with the tools or try to
figure out how to use a machine on your own.
Severe injury could result if you do not use a
tool or machine exactly how you have been
shown or neglect to follow all safety rules.
Q.13 - Safety glasses must be worn on any machine
or power tool for which they are provided – in
particular, the belt and disk sander, hand held
electric drill, Dremel tool, etc.
Q.14 - Enclosed footwear must be worn in the
workshop. Thongs, sandals etc. are not
permitted
Q.15 - Ask workshop supervisor before using
equipment.
Q.16 - Long hair must be tied back.
Q.17 - Clean machines and benches after use.
Q.18 - Place any leftover scraps in the appropriate
containers.
Q.19 - Working alone is not permitted.
R. Schedule of Fees for the Use of Center Facilities
The use of facilities require a certain amount to
cover for the maintenance and operating
expenses of the Center. This will help the School in
securing the cost of energy/electricity
consumption, materials consumed, and
improvement out of its annual budget. It is
proposed that the following schedule of fees be
adopted and collected from the users as long
as:
R.1 - All usage is appropriately booked into the
system.
R.2 - All users must have completed a certification
program before starting work in the Center.
R.3 - All Center users are governed by the same
protocols and codes of practice, without
exception. Priority bookings will be given to
PSHSWVC Scholars, Faculty and Staff and its
 partner Agency. No fees and costs will be
charged from them.
R.4 - For Non-priority bookings, any modeling, tool
path creation, or file manipulation required or
requested with the Center will cost P3,000.00
per hour.
R.5 - Any fabrication requested will cost P3,000.00
per hour for labor.
R.6 - Fees covers the consumables such as blades,
glue, sandpaper and other materials necessary
to operate machines in the Center.
R.7 - A fabrication schedule must be presented to
the CO or CC for prior approval. A billing Index
will be required prior to work completed.
Payment is required at time of services
rendered.
R.8 - The Center will include a reasonable volume of
materials in the cost of using equipment, and
additional charges will need to be made for the
use of more expensive components and
materials. Users are asked to give reasonable
notice of their material needs so that provision
can be made and, should charges be made for
some of these, then adequate notice can be
given.
R.9 - No Charges for Annual Membership but
Membership to the Center is highly
recommended as to have an easy, adequate
access to its facilities. Among the benefits of
being a member includes: Bookable access to
the Center for use as workspace; Bookable
machine time; Free certification program and
training workshops.

S. Program Review

As part of a continuous improvement system, this

operations manual shall be reviewed on a
regular basis.

Submitted by:

ALBERTO G. TANOY
SST III

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