WEEKLY CRITICAL REFLECTION

Conor Gallagher G00378320

Health and Safety in the Wood Technology Classroom

Health and safety is a huge part of my subjects, they have to go hand in hand with the work during
the class in order to attempt to keep all students safe and unharmed during the classes. This is done
by the correct learning of the health and safety procedures and precautions through both theory
first then through practical classes as the years go on. Constant reinforcement is needed in order to
remind students of these throughout the classes to aid the students. this I witnessed first-hand
through my team-teaching class especially as it is with 3rd years and even though they have been
studying wood technology for 3 years now they still appear to be needing reminders of how to
correctly use tools and machines in order to prevent harm. Therefore, demonstrations are still
needed in order to reinforce this. Especially in this part of 3rd year as now, they may be using
machines they have never used before like that of the bandsaw. During the last team-teaching class,
I gave some one-on-one demonstrations of this machine to pupils that needed to use it, and I felt
that this went very well as all students then followed the proper procedure.

Implementing common sense when using machinery and tools in the woodwork classroom is what
will keep you safe when using them as “The most effective safety tool is your brain” (Hintz, 2007).
Telling the students that common sense is critical in knowing when and how to use machinery and
tools is key in the class if you don’t feel something is safe then do not use it until shown correctly.
Safety is something that I continue to plan on incorporating into my class and to get the students to
use common sense in all my classes. It is good to always make the students feel that they can ask
questions before carrying out a task even if it is before using the bandsaw or going chiselling out a
trench, this is to always make sure that they are done safely with the correct advice.

Reflecting on health and safety in my classes so far I would like to go into more one-on-one
demonstrations or even smaller groups with my first-year class just to make sure they are using the
tools correctly, and if they get it right now it will be right for the remainder of their time doing the
subject. And a “safety-first” (Porter & Tooke, 2001) approach should be brought into every
classroom that for the technology teachers.
References
Hintz, T. (2007). Working Safely. New Woodworker Handbook: The Basics for Spending Wisely,
Working Safely & Having Fun in Your Shop.

Brian Porter, & Chris Tooke. (2001). Carpentry and Joinery 1: Vol. 3rd ed. Routledge.