Safety Rules Every Maryland FIRST Robotics Team Should Follow

A successful robotics season depends on much more than a fast drivetrain or a clever autonomous routine. Teams need clear procedures for tools, batteries, moving mechanisms, electrical systems, transport, competition conduct and supervision. These habits protect students, mentors, volunteers and spectators while creating a workshop where young people can take sensible risks in learning.

Maryland FIRST Robotics supports FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST Tech Challenge, FIRST LEGO League and Jr.FLL teams for students aged 4–18. Although this guidance is written for an Australian audience, the principles apply across programmes and locations. A school team in Brisbane, a community group in regional New South Wales or a club sharing a workshop in Melbourne can use the same safety culture, adapted to local rules and facilities.

Safety Starts Before Construction

Every team should appoint a safety lead and make responsibilities clear before the first build session. This person does not carry the entire burden of safety; they help the coach, adult mentors and students create checklists, run briefings and record incidents or near misses. Students should know who can stop work, where first-aid supplies are stored and how to report a hazard without being blamed.

Begin each session with a short safety briefing. Cover the day’s tasks, specific hazards, required personal protective equipment and emergency arrangements. A quick “toolbox talk” is familiar language in many Australian workplaces and can work well in a school or community workshop. Keep a signed induction record for students and visitors, including any rules required by the host school, council facility or employer.

The workspace should have marked walkways, adequate lighting, ventilation and uncluttered exits. Store sharp parts, chemicals, soldering equipment and batteries in controlled areas. In Queensland or Western Australia, summer heat can make workshops uncomfortable and increase fatigue, so schedule water breaks and monitor airflow. During bushfire season, teams should also know whether local emergency warnings affect travel or venue access.

Use Tools And Machines With Control

Students must receive instruction before using drills, saws, grinders, soldering irons, 3D printers or other powered equipment. Demonstrate the correct operating method, then supervise practice until the student can work safely. Eye protection should be routine when cutting, drilling, grinding or handling parts that may fragment. Tie back long hair, secure loose clothing and remove dangling jewellery.

Clamp workpieces instead of holding them by hand. Keep fingers away from blades, rotating shafts, pinch points and robot joints. Disconnect power before clearing a jam or adjusting a machine. A tool should be switched off before it is put down, and damaged cords, guards or batteries should be taken out of service immediately. “She’ll be right” is not a safety system; if something looks unsafe, stop and fix it.

Adult supervision needs to match the risk and the students’ experience. A younger FIRST LEGO League participant may need close, continuous support around tools, while an experienced high-school student may complete more independent work under a documented system. Guidance on the adult mentor role can help teams define how adults teach, supervise and support students without taking over their work.

Treat Batteries And Electrical Systems Seriously

Rechargeable batteries can deliver enough current to cause burns, fire or serious equipment damage. Use the charger specified for the battery type, inspect packs and leads before use, and charge them on a stable, non-combustible surface away from paper, fabric and crowded benches. Never charge a swollen, cracked, leaking or unusually hot battery. Isolate it according to the manufacturer’s instructions and notify the responsible adult.

Students should understand polarity, short circuits, insulation and strain relief before wiring a robot. Use suitable connectors, fuses and wire gauges, and keep exposed conductors protected. Disconnect the main power source before changing motors, controllers or wiring. A labelled battery area with a charging log can help mentors identify damaged equipment and prevent a flat or uncharged pack from becoming a rushed hazard before an event.

Activity or hazard	Minimum team control	Extra attention for Australian teams
Cutting and drilling	Eye protection, clamped material, trained operator, clear bench	Check workshop rules and dust control, especially in shared school spaces
Soldering	Heat-resistant surface, ventilation, supervision and safe iron storage	Keep fumes away from classrooms and follow the host facility’s requirements
Robot testing	Safety glasses, test zone, disabled controls and a named spotter	Allow for crowded halls, hard floors and spectators unfamiliar with robots
Battery charging	Correct charger, inspection, fire-resistant location and charging log	Consider hot conditions during summer events and transport between venues
Lifting and transport	Use team lifts, carts and secured cases; keep paths clear	Plan for long regional journeys, stairs and loading areas at competitions
Public demonstrations	Barrier or exclusion zone, controlled speed and trained operators	Account for outdoor sun, uneven ground and changing weather conditions

Robot testing deserves the same care as fabrication. Place the robot on a stand or blocks when testing wheels or mechanisms off the ground, and establish a clearly marked test area for moving machines. Only trained operators should hold the controller. A spotter should have authority to call “stop,” while everyone nearby knows how to reach the emergency disconnect.

Prepare For Competitions And Travel

A robot that is safe in the workshop may become hazardous in a busy venue. Before an event, inspect bumpers, fasteners, guards, wiring, battery retention and moving parts. Confirm that the robot can be disabled quickly and that the team can explain its safety features during inspection. Keep tools and spare parts organised so a last-minute repair does not create a trip hazard or rushed decision.

Competition areas may include polished floors, temporary cables, loading docks, crowded pits and spectators standing close to machines. Follow referee, inspector and venue instructions immediately. Students should walk when carrying tools or robot components, wear appropriate footwear and keep the pit aisle clear. Never test a robot in a public walkway or near people who have not agreed to be inside the operating zone.

Travel requires its own plan. Secure batteries and equipment during transport, follow carrier and venue requirements, and assign adults to supervise students at all times. For Australian teams travelling from a regional town to Sydney, Adelaide or Melbourne, fatigue and long driving distances deserve attention. Build in rest, maintain communication with families and ensure emergency contacts are current rather than relying on a last-minute group message.

Build A Culture Of Reporting And Care

Safety is strongest when students are expected to notice hazards and act on them. Create a simple reporting process for injuries, near misses, damaged tools, overheating components and unsafe behaviour. A near miss is useful information, not an embarrassment. Review what happened, correct the condition and share the lesson without publicly shaming the person involved.

Respectful communication matters during stressful build sessions. Students should be able to pause a test or challenge an unsafe instruction, even when a deadline is approaching. Mentors can model calm decision-making by thanking students who speak up and by stopping their own work when conditions change. This supports the teamwork and creativity that FIRST programmes aim to develop.

Teams should also account for wellbeing. Provide breaks, prevent overcrowding, manage noise where possible and watch for fatigue during late build nights or competition weekends. Follow the host organisation’s safeguarding, supervision and Working with Children requirements. Clear adult-to-student arrangements, appropriate boundaries and reliable sign-in procedures protect participants as carefully as guards and goggles protect them from machinery.

Use a written pre-session and pre-event checklist, review it with the whole team and update it after every incident or near miss. Maryland FIRST resources, venue requirements and local Australian workplace or school procedures can sit alongside one another; where rules differ, follow the stricter applicable requirement and seek qualified advice for specialised equipment.

Make safety part of every build meeting, test run and travel plan. Train students to inspect, communicate and stop when something is wrong, then recognise those behaviours as achievements equal to a successful match. Put these rules into practice before the next workshop session so your team can learn, compete and represent FIRST with confidence.