Industrial Safety

Shop or Industrial safety is a fast-growing area at UC Davis. A shop space, or technical area, is defined as any location where one of the following activities occur:

    • Metal Working: sheet metal forming, machining, grinding, cutting, forging, heat-treating, welding, brazing or soldering
    • Carpentry and Woodworking: cutting, sanding, carving, planning and gluing
    • Surface Modification and Coating: sandblasting, painting, surface preparation, laminating and etching
    • Glass Work: glass blowing, glazing, annealing, tempering, bonding, grinding, and hot-work with glass materials
    • Electrical / Electronic work: equipment building, circuit design and building, wiring, and control system building or repair
    • Plastics Work: machining, burning, bonding, cutting, gluing and melting
    • Equipment Development and Model Building Work: machine or model building, hydraulics building or use, compressed air use, and equipment repairs
    • Rock and Geological Sampling
    • 3D Printing

Industrial Safety Web Pages

EH&S Sponsored Safety Documents

Industrial Training

Industrial Hazards

Powered Equipment and Tools

Employees who use hand and power tools are exposed to the hazards of falling, flying, abrasive, and splashing objects, as well as to harmful dusts, fumes, mists, vapors, or gases and loud noises. These users must be provided with appropriate personal protective equipment. Power Tool Safety Operating Procedures can be found on the Campus Shop Safety Manual webpage.

Industrial Chemicals

The risks associated with industrial chemical use are greatly reduced or eliminated when proper precautions and practices are followed. To better manage hazards and mitigate their associated risks, UC Davis has developed the Hazard Communication Program. The program is intended to address chemical safety and is designed to aid faculty, staff, and students in maintaining a safe environment to teach and conduct research. Chemical inventory is tracked in the online UC Chemicals tool, while Hazardous (Chemical) Waste is tracked and removed through the WASTe online program.

Electrical Hazards

Working with electricity can be dangerous. Only qualified electrical workers are allowed to work with electricity directly, including working on overhead lines, cable harnesses, and circuit assemblies. Others, such as office workers, work with electricity indirectly and may also be exposed to electrical hazards.
Electricity has long been recognized as a serious workplace hazard. Cal/OSHA’s electrical standards and UC Davis policies are designed to protect staff and students from the dangers of being exposed to electric shock, electrocution, fires, and explosions.

Compressed Gasses

Compressed gas cylinders present significant physical and health hazards due to high pressure gases contained within the cylinders. They must be treated with caution because a leak in an enclosed space can displace oxygen and create an asphyxiation hazard.

Confined Spaces

UC Davis employees entering confined spaces on campus may encounter extremely hazardous atmospheric conditions and/or access difficulties. The UC Davis Confined Space Entry Program provides guidance for safe entry into confined spaces and associated work.

Departments with Industrial Hazards at the Office of Research

    • Air Quality Research Center
    • Bodega Marine Laboratory
    • California Lighting Technology Center
    • Center for Health and the Environment
    • Controlled Environmental Facility
    • McClellan Nuclear Research Center
    • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility
    • Tahoe Environmental Research Center
    • Teaching and Research Animal Care Services
    • Western Cooling Efficiency Center