This document is currently in draft.
This is a guide for how to run the space during our regular workshop events, e.g. General Hacking Day, Metal Monday, Wednesday Woodworking.
It's not possible to please everyone all the time.
It's OK to say "no" and disappoint people if you can't meet a request safely, or you need to manage your workload as an event host.
Use the priorities below to guide your decision making.
-
Safety and protection of (in order) -
- People (members, visitors).
- Property and premises.
- Our reputation / social license to operate.
-
Supervising the operation of the space.
- Monitoring the activities in the space (e.g. being generally aware of who is doing what.)
- Checking (where required) that people are trained, competent, and authorised to use tools and equipment.
- Answering questions about space policies and procedures.
- Recognising and intervening in unsafe situations.
-
Helping our members.
-
Helping day pass users, the general public.
-
Open the front door(s) at the calendared start time of the event. (or before)
- Let people know if you're going to be late, e.g. by posting to #general.
- If there's another key holder in the space, you can ask them to open the doors before you get there (so people aren't waiting outside).
-
Supervise people in the space as per Keyholder Responsibilities.
-
An event host needs to be present for the entire calendared duration of the event.
- If you need to leave, hand over to another event host.
- "I need to duck down to Bunnings - can you please take charge of the space until I'm back?"
- The role of "event host" is a position of responsibility, and requires specific competencies.
- Many keyholders do not want to, or are unable to, take on the responsibility of being an event host.
-
Close the space at the calendered end time of the event, as per Keyholder Responsibilities.
Refer to How to give a tour (currently in draft).
- See especially the section regarding "Specific things that we need to set expectations about".
- If all volunteers are busy, it's OK to ask people to come back for tours at another time (e.g. Open Day).
You can offer to run the job for them in return for payment.
See one off jobs (currently in draft).
It is OK to say no to requests that come without prior notice.
We would rather disappoint someone and say "no", than deal with the consequences of unsafe tool use.
- If you are a competent and authorised trainer for the tool, and you have spare time, you can train them on the spot.
- Otherwise, ask them to schedule a training slot in #training-and-inductions.
- Ensure the trainee understands that the reliable way to get training is to make a booking in advance.
- Explore other ways to do the job within the set of tools the person is allowed to use.
- If you are a competent and authorised operator you can provide direct personal supervision while the person is using a tool.
- This is a big commitment of time and attention, you are under no obligation to provide this level of service.
- Direct personal supervision means that you are physically present and able to intervene during critical phases of operation.
- It's usually OK to let the person set up the machine themselves, with the machine power off.
- Tell the person that you need to check their setup and PPE before they turn on the machine.
- You need to be physically present and able to intervene while the machine is running.
- It's OK to let the person clean up by themselves, with the machine power off.
- You are ultimately responsible for all aspects of the tool use, including setup, operation, and cleanup.
- If we don't have any competent people available to help, you'll need to politely ask the user to come back another time.
- Some users will say they have "heaps of experience" and ask if they can use a tool "just this once" without going through our training procedure.
- Some users over-estimate their own ability (Youtube is not a substitute for our training and induction system.)
- Some users hold trade qualifications, however little actual experience, or their experience is from a different country with much lower standards.
At the end of the day, remember we have a training and induction system for a good reason - so that attendees don't hurt themselves, each other, or our equipment.
Don't let attendees bypass our training system!