Workshop safety and risk assessment

The D&T workshop is full of sharp tools and powerful machines. Good habits keep everyone safe.

Practise this lesson free (6 questions)

Hazards and risks

A hazard is something that could cause harm, such as a sharp blade or a hot glue gun.
A risk is the chance that the hazard will actually cause harm, and how serious it could be.
A risk assessment lists the hazards, who could be harmed and the control measures used to reduce the risk.

Safe habits

Before using machines: tie back long hair, remove or tuck in ties, loose clothing and jewellery, and wear an apron.
Wear eye protection (goggles or safety glasses) when drilling, sawing, sanding or using machines.
Know where the emergency stop buttons are. Never leave a machine running unattended. Do not wear gloves near rotating machine parts, because they can be caught.
Carry tools pointing down, clamp work securely and only use a machine once your teacher has shown you how.

Safety signs

Safety signs use shapes and colours with set meanings:
SignMeaningExample
Blue circleMandatory: you must do thisWear eye protection
Red circle with a line throughProhibition: you must not do thisNo naked flames
Yellow triangleWarning of a hazardHot surface
Green rectangle or squareSafe conditionFirst aid, emergency exit
Worked example

Write one control measure for using a pillar drill.

  1. A hazard is the spinning drill bit, which could catch hair or clothing.
  2. A control measure reduces the risk.
  3. For example: tie back long hair, clamp the work in a machine vice and wear eye protection.

Answer: Clamp the work in a machine vice and wear eye protection (also: tie back hair, remove loose clothing).

Key idea

A hazard can cause harm; risk is how likely and how serious that harm is. A risk assessment lists hazards and control measures. Blue circle signs mean must do, red circles mean must not, yellow triangles warn, green means safe.

Key words
Risk assessment
A record of the hazards in a task, who could be harmed and the control measures that reduce the risk.
Hazard
Something that could cause harm.
Tie
A part of a frame structure that is in tension.

All KS3 Design and Technology key terms and definitions →

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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. Which of these is a hazard in a workshop?

    1. Wearing goggles
    2. Sawdust on the floor
    3. A first aid kit
    4. A fire exit sign
    Show the answer

    Answer: Sawdust on the floor

    Sawdust can cause slips.

  2. What does a red circle with a diagonal line mean?

    1. You must do something
    2. Warning of danger
    3. Safe condition
    4. You must not do something
    Show the answer

    Answer: You must not do something

    Prohibition signs are red.

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Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

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