A safe nerd is a happy nerd

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A safe nerd is a happy nerd!

• A Nerds Guide to Safe Rocketry

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How An Injured Nerd Can Affect Our Precious Rocket

• The Project Can Be DELAYED
• The Project Can Be CANCELLED
• The Completed Rocket MAY NOT BE FLOWN AT
  ALL

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Save A Nerd From Injury

• No Nerd Works Alone
• Remind One Another of Necessary Safety Precautions

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A Brief Summary of What Can Hurt A Nerd

• Tools
• Chemicals
• Altimeters and Igniters

• Motors
• Launch Situations

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Summary of Tool Safety

• Read Manuals
• Keep work area neat and clean and put tools away
• Know When to Wear Gloves
• Know When NOT to Wear Gloves
• Use Hand Tools as Designed

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List of Tools

• Hammer
• Drill
• Bandsaw
• Hacksaw
• Screwdrivers

• Soldering Iron
• Wrenches
• Sockets/Ratchets
• Vice Grips
• Pliers

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Hammer Safety

• Dos
• Always wear safety glasses!!!!!
• Make sure handle fits tightly on the head
• Only use hammer for its designed purpose

• Donts
• DO NOT strike steel, concrete, stone, or any hard
  metal object with a steel hammer!
• NEVER strike a hammer against another hammer!
• DONT use a hammer with a chipped or mushroomed
  face.
• DONT use a hammer with cracked handle or claw.

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Drill Safety

• Dos
• Wear Safety Glasses!
• Wear sufficient clothing to protect your body
  from moving parts.
• Use a dust mask as needed.
• Hearing protection is RECOMMENDED.
• CLAMP and SECURE what you are working on.

• Donts
• DONT wear loose fitting clothing or loose
  fitting gloves.

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Bandsaw Safety

• Dos
• Wear SAFETY Glasses!
• Read manual for cautions specific to the machine
  type.
• The upper guide and guard should be set as close
  to the work as possible (1/4 inch is preferred).
• If the band breaks
• Immediately shut off power and stand clear until
  machine has stopped.

• Donts
• NEVER EVER wear gloves.
• DONT push the workpiece into the blade hard
  enough to cause the machine to chatter.
• NEVER adjust guard when machine is turned on.
• NEVER adjust speed while machine is turned off.
• NEVER cut any material than cannot be cut with a
  standard hand file.

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Hacksaw Safety

• KEEP THE BLADE FROM BREAKING
• Blade breaks when
• Too much pressure is applied
• The saw is twisted
• The cutting speed is too fast
• The blade becomes loose in the frame

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Soldering Safety

• ALWAYS return the soldering iron to its stand.
• KEEP area well ventilated.
• ALWAYS wash hands after using solder.

• NEVER touch the element or tip of the iron.
• AVOID touching the main flex with the tip of the
  iron.

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Safety Using Wrenches, Sockets/Ratchets, Vice
Grips, Pliers, and Screwdrivers

• Only use these tools for their designed purpose.
• ALWAYS disconnect the power before working on
  electrical equipment or devices.
• DO NOT use these tools if a nerds face is within
  two feet of work- There is a risk of
• Eye injury
• Head injury

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Epoxy Safety

• READ the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for
  each chemical you use!
• KEEP an MSDS nearby for reference at all times
  when using chemicals.
• ALWAYS wear SAFETY GLASSES!!!!
• Wear respirator if room is not properly
  ventilated.
• READ and KNOW instructions for use.
• Only mix as much as is needed for a 15-minute
  period.

• DO NOT get this on your skin!
• Wear liquid-proof, chemical resistant gloves and
  full-body-covering clothing.
• DO NOT expose to high temperatures.
• DO NOT eat this stuff!
• DO NOT use if you are not familiar with First
  Aid Measures found in MSDS.
• DO NOT forget to wash thoroughly after use even
  though you wore gloves.

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Black Powder Safety

• READ the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) !
• KEEP an MSDS nearby for reference at all times
  when using.
• ALWAYS wear SAFETY GLASSES!!!!
• Wear impervious rubber gloves and
  metal-free/nonstatic producing clothes.

• DO NOT expose to heat, sparks, friction, impact,
  or open flame.
• DO NOT use if you are not familiar with First
  Aid Measures found in MSDS.
• DO NOT use ANY tools that will produce a spark.
• NO SMOKING!

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Altimeter and Igniter Safety

• Keep switched off until launch.
• Shunt igniters and ematches.
• Wear EYE GLASSES when making pyrotechnic charges.
  
• Be familiar with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
  Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) (aka ATF) rules.
• Know Black Powder safety.

• DO NOT swallow igniter propellant.
• DO Not expose to heat or acids.
• DO Not use if you are not familiar with First Aid
  Measures found in MSDS.
• DO NOT breathe fumes.
• DO NOT use igniters indoors.

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Motor SafetyLow to Mid-power Rocket
Motors/Motor Reload Kits

• READ the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)!
• KEEP an MSDS nearby for reference at all times
  when using.
• ALWAYS wear SAFETY GLASSES!!!!
• AVOID heat and acids.
• STORE motors G impulse and under, must be
  stored in a non-sparking box.

• DO NOT get propellant on skin.
• DO NOT swallow propellant.
• DO NOT breathe exhaust fumes.
• DO NOT use if you are not familiar with First
  Aid Measures found in MSDS.
• DO NOT use indoors.

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High Power Rocket Motor

• NO ONE HANDLES THIS AT ALL EXCEPT THE NERD
  WRANGLER (DR. KNIGHT).

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Launch SituationsIgnition System

• Electrical Motor Igniters will not be installed
  in motor until after rocket is at the launch pad
  or in designated prepping area.
• There will be a Safety Interlock for the Launch
  System that is in series with a launch switch
  that returns to the off position when released.
• If there is an Onboard Ignition System for the
  motor or recovery device, it will have a safety
  interlock that interrupts the current path until
  the rocket is at the launch pad.

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Launch SituationsLaunch Location Safety

• Location must be approved by the Nerd Wrangler
  (D.K.)
• Must Launch in an Open area that, on its smallest
  dimension is at least as large as ½ the max
  altitude to which rockets are allowed to be flown
  at that site or 1500 feet (whichever is greater).
• Adhere to the Minimum Distance Table as seen on
  next slide (this is how far away Nerds and
  Non-Nerds must be from rocket during the launch
  and how much area must be cleared around launch
  pad).
• This distance must be increased by a factor of
  1.5 if the motor uses titanium sponge propellant.

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Launch SituationsLaunch Pad Safety

• Launch from Stable Device that Provides Rigid
  Guidance.
• Guidance Device must be pointed within 20 degrees
  of vertical.
• There must be a Blast Deflector.
• Make certain launcher length is adequate for a
  safe velocity to be reached for winds exceeding 5
  mph.
• There will be no FLAMMABLE or EXPLOSIVE PAYLOAD
  in the Rocket.

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Launch SituationsThe Launch Itself

• Make sure there is an available means to warn
  EVERYONE in case of a problem.
• Rocket WILL NOT FLY if wind exceeds 20 mph.
• If there is a MISFIRE if rocket doesnt launch
  when button of Electrical Launch System is
  Pressed
• Remove launchers safety interlock or disconnect
  battery.
• Wait 60 seconds after last launch attempt before
  approaching the rocket.

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Launch SituationsFlight/Recovery

• Rocket will not be launched
• At any target
• Into clouds
• Near Airplanes
• On paths that take it directly over heads of
  spectators or beyond boundaries of Launch Site
• Rocket will not be recovered from
• Power Lines
• Tall Trees
• Other Dangerous Places
• The Air as it Approaches the Ground