How to kid proof machines?

[sakurama]

So we're winding down our house renovations and once we've moved in I'll be able to get my shop set up. We live with our MIL right now and the kids love to come and spend time with me in the garage. I'm building out an extra large bench that will accommodate them and want to encourage them to spend time with me in the garage and learn to be inquisitive.

Therein lies the problem. My 2 yo son is already very inquisitive and is an absolute master escape artist. At school they've nicknamed him Houdini because he's foiled all the locks and child safety devices. I think that's great but when it comes to my shop turning on a machine could be instantly lethal.

I have a big lathe and mill, disc sander, cold saw, welder, band saw and numerous small hand tools all of which could seriously hurt or kill a child if they were to turn them on unattended.

My initial plan is to shut off the breakers to the big 220 stuff when I'm gone and to lock the garage but I'm worried that isn't enough. What safety precautions have you taken to keep your kids from hurting themselves?

When he's older and can understand the stuff I'll teach him but at 2 or 3 he's more curious and likely to get into things he shouldn't.

Gregor

 

[Thumper68]

In one of my old shop, this wasn't done on purpose the lighting was off the main box and all the outlets were off an add on, I didn't wire it the previous owner had and there were apts on the upper floor. So all I had to do was turn off the main breaker in the add on box to kill everything but lights, I made use of the padlock hasp on the add on and no one could use my equipment when I was not there.

 

[jakemac]

Lockout boxes and padlocks for everything.

I'm not dealing with it yet, but my nephew (2 weeks old) will be doing the same thing.
My shop will be locked (whether I'm in it or not) at all times until he's old enough to enter safely (I'm thinking 35 ? ).

 

[nanofrog]

Are you just concerned about them turning it off when you're not there?

Or access to a machine even when it's off (stuff that can't be put into a box & locked)?

 

[Conductor562]

I'm in the same boat. I've come to the conclusion that the only way to make sure Conductor Jr. doesn't get hurt is to either send him to live with his grandparents or not have any equipment He's 4 and is incredibly mechanical. He can start anything with a key. My only saving grace is that he isn't yet strong enough to pull start anything, but it won't be long. A keyed lock on the door and knocking down the breakers should work...for now

 

[Givl Reggin]

The bigger deal you make of it, the more of a fascination/challenge it will be to him - that's the way the male mind works.

 

[bad67bug]

Look into industrial lockout/tagout options. We use various methods of locking out broken machines at work so they can't be operated until they are repaired.

I just found these for circuit breakers in a quick search.

http://www.professionalequipment.com/product_images/Full/105826_big.jpg

 

[24ModelTFord]

As already mentioned, go with a lockout system. Power off, make sure all bases are covered - air, gravity, etc, just like we do at the factory and you will be all set. Keep the key (s) with you - don't leave them in the house.

 

[Jim Johnstone]

Disconnects at each machine that can be locked. I have a 16 month old son that can climb anything and escape from anywhere and I will be using lockout disconnects on all my machines.

Sent from my SGH-I727R using Tapatalk 2

 

[bannerd]

Couple down the road did that. I was always worried about the kids getting hurt but the guy made a playpen inside the garage for their 3-4 year old kids. Couple years ago he lost one of his kids. Large can of tomatoes fell off from a high shelf and struck the kid in the head killing him instantly.

Just be very careful, I don't have kids yet but if it was me they wont be allowed in the garage until they learn how to respect machines.

 

[rlitman]

I pretty much always leave the door open when I'm in the shop. My five year old has known for three years now, to not cross the threshold of the door without being escorted in. My two year old is learning this now, and is pretty good about it.

Truth be told, their biggest interest in entering the shop is to see daddy when I am inside. Not curiosity to see what is inside when I am not around. I know that I can leave the door open and not have to worry about my kids who are running through the yard (which has access to the garage's man door without going through a gate).

My 5 year old will work with me in the shop, but has a healthy respect for the tools. But that doesn't mean I keep him away from them. So far, he has used the scroll saw and the drill press. I added a foot pedal to the scroll saw that I can use like a kill switch. The drill press has not been modified, but we have only been drilling wood so far. He needs a step stool to use both.

Lock the door when you're out, not the tools. Teach them correctly, and don't baby proof the shop.

 

[Big-Foot]

Dad built a wall and door framing out of 2x2's and used chicken wire to cover them and a small padlock on the door. That kept us kids out of his shop and me from borrowing his tools..

After hearing about a 2 year old that opened the trunk to the family car and locked himself inside and died - I would not put anything past a child that can walk...

 

[383 240z]

My dad treated the shop tools the same as the firearms. He taught us a healthy respect for both and if we wanted to use them all we had to do was ask, he would then take us and watch over us. Having open access to them took the curiosity out of them. We all lived. Keith

 

[Spudland_Dave]

My dad treated the shop tools the same as the firearms. He taught us a healthy respect for both and if we wanted to use them all we had to do was ask, he would then take us and watch over us. Having open access to them took the curiosity out of them. We all lived. Keith

Bingo...my dad would LOTO (Lock out tag out) power tools when he wasn't around but I was NEVER not allowed to use any tool I wanted as long as he was there and I had proper "training"....no need for me to sneak around and defeat the system (I eventually knew were the key was anyways).

TEACH THEM how to use tools. My 3 year old was making a mess of my toolbox, luckily my SO guy has been swinging great deals my way so as I upgrade whatever tool, I throw the old Craftsman's into his box...now he's happy as a pig in poop he has a full set of CMan ratchets, sockets, wrenches and screwdrivers and he leaves mine alone without even having to lock my box. Plastic/Toy tools never fooled him, he always wanted Daddy's.

IMO its worse to lock it all up behind doors and make tools a "Forbidden Fruit".

 

[LEVE]

You'll never kid-proof the machines.

As the kids grow, you machine proof the kids.... knowledge is power and vigilance is paramount.

 

[sakurama]

Lots of good suggestions. I think I'll lock the door but the circuit lockout for the big stuff is probably the best idea. I plan on teaching them safe practices but, at this particular age, those sort of things don't stick just yet.

My biggest fear is a lathe accident as that could kill them quick so the lockout is probably the best idea for now. As was mentioned their biggest interest is to watch what I'm doing or spend time with daddy and with time the tools will lose their fascination or they'll become fabricators. Ill teach them when they're ready but I want to keep them safe until they are.

My wife suggested covers and last night it occurred to me that covers for the lathe and mill might also help keep the ways clean as my shop will be both wood and metal.

Thanks guys!

Gregor

 

[Chuck122]

Put a master switch for all outlets and make sure it is high enough to be out of reach or that it can be locked. This way, as you leave the shop you just shut the lights, flip the switch and are certain you did not forget to lock anything. I'd bet the biggest flaw of any system is its potential to be forgotten and some how not activated. This makes the KISS course of action quite interesting

 

[sakurama]

I'd bet the biggest flaw of any system is its potential to be forgotten and some how not activated. This makes the KISS course of action quite interesting

Yeah, that's my wife's concern - that I'd forget. Like I'd ever forget anything...

I think it will be fine after a year but it's getting through the initial fascination that is the worry. That combined with the fact that I travel for work a fair amount leaving them alone for days at a time.

Gregor

 

[78Bird]

I dont think he means to keep the rugrats out forever, no questions, just to keep them out in that escape artist but super curious phase before they learn to respect things and not go in without daddy/uncle/whatever.

I think just a key locked door will be fine, if you can be SURE you 100% dont ever leave it open, even to run get a drink or something.

 

[jakemac]

It hasn't been mentioned yet, but if you have a stacked tool cabinet you might want to put safety cables or chains on it to keep it from tipping over when Houdini uses the drawers as a staircase to climb (and he will). The same for your drill press.

 

[AmericanPreferred]

If telling him no is not enough, you may not want to let him see you unlock the breaker box and flip the breakers.

 

[240sxguy]

I shut off breakers and unplug tools. My 2 year old son is very inquisitive too and I have seen him walk up to my bench grinder and flip it on. Thankfully I had it unplugged.

 

[crewchief888]

My dad treated the shop tools the same as the firearms. He taught us a healthy respect for both and if we wanted to use them all we had to do was ask, he would then take us and watch over us. Having open access to them took the curiosity out of them. We all lived. Keith

my dad did the same with me.

taught the same things to my stepkids, and niece when they lived with us.

i like to think they had enough respect for me and what i had to say, to actually listen.

 

[rsanter]

My daughter loved going into the garage with me and loved cranking the handles on the mill to make the table move.

First step. Teach them what they can and can't play with and what to ask to touch before touching. The trick is that you let them play with the stuff supervised so they know they can of they ask.

Next step. Unplug and set machines in a safe mode so they can't me hurt even of the machine using running. That meant locking the spindle position of you can, locking table or carriage positions of you can....etc

Lock the toolbox.

Next step. Go buy a smaller/shorter toolbox and start to fill with tools that they can play with. My daughter had a rubber mallet verses a hammer. Medium sizes wrenches, sockets, extensions, ratchets to play with so they were reasonably safe. No screwdrivers or sharp or smaller items and no too large of items that had any weight to them

Funny story.....I figured I would be smart and get her a plastic Elmo toolset as she liked playing with some of my tools. Gave it to her and she looked at them, looked at me like she was thinking what a bunch of junk.....I want the real stuff
Ended up giving them away as she didn't want anything to do that them

Bob

 

[sakurama]

Funny story.....I figured I would be smart and get her a plastic Elmo toolset as she liked playing with some of my tools. Gave it to her and she looked at them, looked at me like she was thinking what a bunch of junk.....I want the real stuff
Ended up giving them away as she didn't want anything to do that them

Bob

That's funny. My son is the same - wife bought him a toy tool kit and one day when we were in the garage he started to "trade" with me each of his tools for my real ones. I was impressed he could pick out the good ones at two. Now I keep the cast offs or odd tools for him.

Gregor

 

[justanengineer]

IMHO all machines should have lockout boxes on them anyway so you can selectively kill power to work on them without flipping a breaker as breakers arent on/off switches.....so +1 for simply installing lockout boxes.

 

[sberry]

How much can you do?

 

[dadsEH]

put a lock on the door
P.S... dont ever let him see you working a panel with hammer and dolly , monkey see , monkey do...dont ask me how i know.

 

[sberry]

Now he is mobile. The biggest chore is to keep his little brother from eating Legos.

 

[Vertigo Cycles]

I know it's scary now but it'll pay off later. My oldest kid isn't much of a climber and I've been able to get by with unplugging my machines from the wall and flipping the breaker switch. It helps that the door to the garage is tricky to open too. Once Ellie is older, I'll probably have to put a lock on the breaker box.

On the upside, Maddy has always been able to recognize and had a fascination with my "adult toys". Any time I buy a new 40 taper tool holder, I let her take it out of the packaging and wipe it down. Her favorite so far was the GMT keyless chuck. She's also quite find of the bike specific tools, favoring the wheelbuilding stuff. I bought my wife a new cargo bike and Maddy helped build the wheel set this past weekend. It's been the highlight of the month so far.

Looking forward to seeing your shop build out!

 

[gus1962]

Good to see this post! Some great suggestions here. I have a son and it worries me every time he wants to go with me in my shop but I don't let him. When he gets older, there' no way I can stop him from seeing my tools. The newest tool I have is my band saw and it's the biggest I have. I think I should make a plan, take measures and work on it.

 

[Jsf721]

I would suggest wiring in a keyed switch so when you leave you can lock the electric out. It is worth it

 

[AmericanPreferred]

Just remember iif he is a true escape artist he will notice the bearker box cover is held on with screws, and around the lock he goes. Then he might notice some more screws inside there, which can really be dangerous. Behind a picture, behind a false wall in a locked closet...

 

[lametec]

I have 7 and 8 year olds. I simply tell them how dangerous the tools can be, and they stay far away from them. Usually if I start one up, they exit the garage promptly.

The pedestal grinder can grind your finger down to a nub in no time. The lathe will grab your arm and continue to beat you with it until you're pulp.. Etc.

I'll let 'em "play" with them in time, but for now I think they're better off being scared of 'em.

 

[Mr.Ric]

Safety First!

No Go Tape on the floor and a willow switch at the ready. Your shop isn't the playground.

Sure it's cute, and "what could happen?", but it's not a risk you should be willing to take. Unfortunate consequences are unforgettable, and unforgivable.

 

[Alan Douglas]

It depends on the kid. My father had a table saw in the cellar and I used to sit on the stairs and watch him use it, but it was noisy and looked dangerous and I didn't think of using it myself until I was maybe 12 or 13. Nothing was ever locked, and we played in the cellar frequently. I was using hand tools at 3 or 4 (so I'm told) and had my own at 6.

 

[Farmall450]

Look into industrial lockout/tagout options. We use various methods of locking out broken machines at work so they can't be operated until they are repaired.

I just found these for circuit breakers in a quick search.

http://www.professionalequipment.com/product_images/Full/105826_big.jpg

Very nice indeed...

 

[moron88]

i remember hanging out with my great grandpa in his shop. i remember using his drill press and corded drill at 3 or 4. he helped me use the drill press but i was using the hand drill by myself (he was at most 5 feet away). i also remember getting a 3rd degree burn on my hand when i was 3 from touching the wood stove he had out there (used it for heat in the winter and to burn milk jugs). i learned to not touch that damn thing ever again. he would cut himself at least once a month so i also knew to stay away from the saws. he did more carpentry than metal work (he was a coffin builder for who knows how many years) so no welder or angle grinder. he kept the corded drills in a drawer he made on the bottom of a steel table, right where i could get them out myself with no issue. he even made me a vise, which i have someplace. anyway, the best way to keep kids safe is to remove the mystery. show them what the tools do, let them use them, and showing them an example of the hazards isnt the worst idea.

 

[4x4_G30_Sportvan]

Measured pain is an excellent training method, along with teaching them to obey. And let them use some tools with supervision.

 

[byoungblood]

I keep mine unplugged unless I'm using them, and keep the cords out my son's reach. My father practiced the same when my brother and I were coming up and we're both still here with all of our limbs. When we got older he taught us proper shop safety. Door to the garage stays locked any time he's running around the house.

Keep table saw blades lowered when not in use, belt guards in place, etc...