Creative and Technical Offices Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• Laser cutters and engravers — Operate only in ventilated, supervised areas; specify permitted materials; check interlocks; and keep an extinguisher and metal tray ready. Remove resins/PVC; never cut unknowns. Clean lenses, ducts and filters; log use; and halt if smells/smoke change from normal.
• Lithium-ion battery charging — Use approved chargers, charge on non-combustible surfaces away from exits, and never leave packs unattended. Quarantine damaged/swollen cells in a metal container outdoors. Keep smoke detection, limit parallel chargers, and stop DIY repairs or mixed-brand chargers/leads.
• Hot-melt glue guns and heat tools — Provide stands with drip mats; keep 1 m clearance; and unplug when unattended. Wear gloves/eye protection for nozzle changes, and park guns upright. Use lowest effective temperature and avoid strings across walkways. Keep burns kit and forbid use near aerosols/solvents.
• Loading, unloading and vehicle moves — Use trolleys, tail-lifts and team lifts for awkward kits; secure loads, keep ramps dry, and chock wheels on slopes. Brief banksmen for reversing, keep pedestrians clear, and stage kit close to venues to reduce carries. Stop if fatigued or weather makes handling unsafe.
• Knives and precision cutting — Issue cut-resistant gloves and metal rulers, require cutting on mats, and ban pulling blades toward the body. Replace dull blades promptly, use covered disposal tins, and store tools capped. Keep hands clear of the line of cut and forbid improvised knives or open drawers as rests.