5041 FRC Safety Training Module

Module Goals

By the end, students should be able to:

  • Explain 5041 safety expectations for shop, pit, field, and robot work.
  • Choose the correct PPE for common robot tasks.
  • Identify hazards from tools, stored energy, batteries, chemicals, and moving mechanisms.
  • Use safe practices for tool setup, cutting, grinding, lifting, and robot transport.
  • Respond correctly to injuries, unsafe conditions, and battery incidents.
  • Prepare for safe behavior at FIRST events, in the pit, and around practice fields.
Training Sources

What this module is built from

FIRST Safety Manual cover

FIRST Safety Manual

General FIRST safety culture, PPE, tools, batteries, lifting, pits, and events.

5041 Safety Agreement

5041 Safety Materials

Team specific materials for behavior, PPE use, training, tool use, injury reporting, and shop access.

Safety Resources

Download Safety Documents

Use these links for team safety training, required forms, battery cleanup, and FIRST safety references.

5041 Team Safety Resources

Team-specific safety training, forms, and emergency documents.

Safety Presentation PPTX Tool Safety Presentation PPTX Safety Contract PDF Injury Report PDF Battery Cleanup Instructions PDF

FIRST Safety Resources

Official FIRST safety manual and appendix documents.

FIRST Safety Manual PDF Appendix A: Safety Checklist Appendix B: Corrective Action Plan Appendix C: Safety Data Sheets Appendix D: FRC Safety Program
Culture of Safety

Safety is crucial part of how any team works

FIRST describes safety as a culture that every participant must embrace. That means safe behavior is expected during meetings, build season, travel, events, pit work, and robot operation.

5041 Mantra: Everyone has a place here and everyone has a responsibility to keep that place safe.

Participant Responsibilities

What every team member should do

Be Prepared

Know the rules, know where safety equipment is, and know who to report issues to.

Work Responsibly

No running, horseplay, distracting others, or rushing around machinery or powered robots.

Report Problems

Report hazards, accidents, injuries, tool problems, spills, and unsafe behavior immediately.

Prevent

Look for hazards before they become injuries, damaged tools, or damaged robots.

Speak Up

Report unsafe conditions, injuries, damaged equipment, and risky behavior to a mentor or Safety Captain.

Lead by Example

Students and mentors model the same safe behaviors they expect from others.

5041 Safety Agreement
Preview of the 5041 Safety Contract

Click on the image to download a pdf copy of 5041's safety agreement


Getting on Board

5041 requires every student to sign a safety agreement as a condition of membership.


Some Key Expectations

  • Wear approved safety glasses/goggles when required.
  • Use gloves, ear protection, and other PPE when necessary.
  • Remove jewelry and secure hair or clothing near machinery.
  • Do not use machinery or power tools without mentor permission and presence.
  • Report injuries immediately, even when they seem minor.
  • Complete required safety training before shop work.
PPE Overview

Personal Protective Equipment protects against specific hazards

Eyes

Safety glasses or goggles protect from debris, splashes, and robot hazards.

Hands

Use the right gloves for heat, sharp material, chemicals, or battery cleanup.

Ears

Use hearing protection around loud machines and noisy power tools.

Feet

Closed-toe and closed-heel shoes are required around robots and work areas.

Important: PPE is not a substitute for safe behavior. Use guards, correct tools, clean workspaces, and good judgment too.

PPE: Safety Glasses

Eye protection is a constant requirement

5041 + FIRST expectations

  • Wear safety glasses near powered robots and power tools.
  • Wear safety glasses in the pits and near the field at events.
  • Regular prescription glasses or sunglasses are not enough unless safety-rated.
  • Use goggles or rated side shields when needed.
5041 safety glasses slide
PPE Choices

Choose PPE for the task

Gloves slide

Gloves

Use for hot or sharp material, welding, heat guns, and battery cleanup. Avoid gloves around machines that can catch them.

Ear protection slide

Ear Protection

Use around loud machinery such as saws, grinders, air compressors, and loud handheld tools.

Foot protection slide

Foot Protection

Wear substantial closed-toe and closed-heel shoes. Flip-flops, sandals, Crocs, and soft shoes are not acceptable.

Check for Understanding

Sort the PPE choices

Drag each item into the category where it belongs.

Safety glasses in the pit
Sunglasses as PPE
Ear protection at grinder
Flip-flops in shop
Gloves for hot metal
Gloves at drill press
Tie back long hair
Dangling jewelry near tools

Safe / Required

Risk / Not Allowed

Tool Safety

Use the right tool, in the right condition, with supervision

    General Rules

  • A mentor must be present when using power tools.
  • Wear proper PPE.
  • Roll up long sleeves.
  • Tie back long hair to the shoulders or more.
  • Remove hanging or dangling jewelry.
  • Make sure all safeguards are in place.
  • Clean up your work area when you are finished.
  • If you encounter a problem, notify a mentor or your Safety Captain.
5041 tool safety general rules slide
Hand Tools

Hand tools can still cause serious injuries

5041 hand tools slide

Before using hand tools

  • Use the correct tool for the job.
  • Do not use broken or damaged tools.
  • Carry sharp points toward the floor.
  • Do not throw or toss tools.
  • Do not hold materials in your hand while using tools.
Power Tool Specifics
Miter saw safety

Miter Saw

  • Use safety glasses and ear protection.
  • Keep long hair up and jewelry off.
  • Don't wear gloves.
  • Keep your hands away from blade.
  • Do not use broken or damaged tools.
  • Wait for blade stop.
Bench grinder safety

Bench Grinder

  • Use safety glasses and ear protection.
  • Keep long hair up and jewelry off.
  • Don't wear gloves.
  • Use tool rest.
  • Keep guards in place.
  • Only grind metals.
Band saw safety

Band Saw

  • Use safety glasses and ear protection.
  • Keep long hair up and jewelry off.
  • Don't wear gloves.
  • Make sure teeth are face down.
  • Keep hands away from blade.
  • Don't twist or bend blade with material.
Power Tool Specifics
Drill press safety

Drill Press

  • Use safety glasses and ear protection.
  • Keep long hair up and jewelry off.
  • Don't wear gloves.
  • Don't hold materials by hand.
  • Keep hands away from bit.
  • Let bit stop.
Table Saw Safety

Table Saw

  • Use safety glasses and ear protection.
  • Keep long hair up and jewelry off.
  • Don't wear gloves.
  • Only use with mentor support.
  • Use push sticks when closer than 6 inches.
  • Never reach over blade.
Hand Tool safety

Hand Tools

  • Use safety glasses and ear protection.
  • Keep long hair up and jewelry off.
  • Only wear gloves if using grinder.
  • Secure material when cutting or drilling.
  • Keep cords out of cut paths.
Check for Understanding

Sort tool practices

Use correct tool
Use cracked blade
Mentor present for power tools
Hold material in hand
Wait for blade stop
Throw tools across bench
Guards in place
Cut without PPE

Good Tool Practice

Tool Safety Risk

Working With the Robot

A robot can move, pinch, drop, or energize unexpectedly

5041 working with the robot slide

Core rules

  • Do not work on the robot when connected to a charged battery unless required and supervised.
  • Stay away from moving parts: arms, elevators, wheels, intakes, gears, and spinning parts.
  • Wear PPE when the robot is enabled or active.
  • Tell others where the robot is being moved.
  • Make sure parts are secured and power is off before lifting.
Stored Energy

Make the robot safe before work

Electrical

Open the main breaker and unplug the battery before most robot work.

Pneumatic

Vent compressed air and verify all pressure gauges read zero.

Mechanical

Lower raised mechanisms and relieve springs, stretched tubing, or other stored energy.

FIRST best practice: Always de-energize the robot before working on it when possible.

Lifting and Transport

Move the robot with a plan

Before and during a lift

  • Use enough people; two people are preferred for FRC lifts.
  • Decide the path and communicate before lifting.
  • Lift with legs, keep back straight, and do not twist.
  • Keep the robot close and coordinate the lift speed.
  • Make sure the cart is stable before loading.
FIRST lifting and cart safety page
Check for Understanding

Put robot move steps in order

Check that mechanisms and loose parts are secured.
Lift together using agreed handholds and body mechanics.
Announce that the robot needs to be moved.
Clear the path and position the cart.
Power off, open breaker, and unplug battery when appropriate.
Place robot securely and keep the cart controlled.

Battery Safety

FRC batteries contain stored energy and acid

FIRST battery safety page

Battery rules

  • Do not use damaged or leaking batteries.
  • Never carry a battery by its wires.
  • Cover exposed terminals and connections.
  • Keep charging area clean and ventilated.
  • Inspect batteries before and after rounds.
  • Follow the SDS for damaged battery handling.
Battery Cleanup

5041 battery acid response

If a battery leaks acid

  • Wear safety glasses and rubber gloves.
  • Neutralize acid with baking soda until fizzing stops.
  • Contain the battery in bags and a thick plastic bin.
  • Neutralize and clean the area again.
  • Bag contaminated towels, gloves, and items.
  • If skin contacts acid, flush with lots of water and seek medical treatment.
5041 battery cleanup instructions
Check for Understanding

Put battery leak response in order

Place battery in bags and a thick plastic bin.
Notify a mentor and keep others away.
Cover acid with baking soda until fizzing stops.
Bag contaminated towels, gloves, and cleanup items.
Put on safety glasses and rubber gloves.
Neutralize and clean the area again.

Pit and Event Safety

The pit is a workspace in a crowded public event

FIRST pit safety page

Event reminders

  • Wear required eye protection in pits and field areas.
  • Keep walkways and the pit aisle clear.
  • Control access to the pit station.
  • Do not daisy chain or overload power strips.
  • Store tools, batteries, chargers, and personal items safely.
  • Know where to report emergencies and injuries.
Workspace Safety

Clean, organized workspaces prevent injuries

Walkways

Keep walkways, doors, pit aisles, and robot paths uncluttered.

Materials

Store heavy or bulky items safely. Remove sharp edges, splinters, and hazards.

Food and Drinks

Keep food and beverages away from work areas, the robot, tools, and chemicals.

Cleanup is everyone's responsibility. A messy shop or pit is a safety problem, not just an organization problem.

Safety Checklist

Click each item as you review it

0 of 12 reviewed.

Required Quiz

Pass to complete the module

Each question is on its own slide.

Answer all 20 questions, then grade the quiz. Score at least 18 out of 20 to unlock the completion slide.

Quiz Question 1
1 of 20

Safety in FIRST and 5041 is mainly the responsibility of:

Quiz Question 2
2 of 20

According to 5041 expectations, approved safety glasses/goggles should be worn:

Quiz Question 3
3 of 20

Before using power tools on 5041, students need:

Quiz Question 4
4 of 20

A student with long hair using tools should:

Quiz Question 5
5 of 20

The safest response to a damaged, dull, or broken tool is to:

Quiz Question 6
6 of 20

When using rotating shop tools such as drill presses or band saws, gloves can be dangerous because they:

Quiz Question 7
7 of 20

FIRST best practice before working on the robot is to:

Quiz Question 8
8 of 20

Before working on pneumatic systems, teams should:

Quiz Question 9
9 of 20

If battery acid contacts skin, the FIRST manual and 5041 cleanup directions emphasize:

Quiz Question 10
10 of 20

For a leaking lead-acid battery, 5041 cleanup instructions say to neutralize acid with:

Quiz Question 11
11 of 20

A leaking battery should be placed into:

Quiz Question 12
12 of 20

When lifting a robot, teams should:

Quiz Question 13
13 of 20

When transporting the robot in crowded areas, the team should:

Quiz Question 14
14 of 20

In the pit, power strips should:

Quiz Question 15
15 of 20

Correct footwear for robot work includes:

Quiz Question 16
16 of 20

5041 says horseplay around machinery or a powered robot is:

Quiz Question 17
17 of 20

After a cut on a saw or drill press, students should retrieve material:

Quiz Question 18
18 of 20

Food and beverages should be kept:

Quiz Question 19
19 of 20

Any cut, burn, bruise, or injury should be:

Quiz Question 20
20 of 20

After three safety violations in one season, the 5041 safety agreement says a student may be asked to:

Quiz Results

Grade the Safety Quiz

Answer all 20 questions. A passing score unlocks the completion slide.

Not submitted.

Passing score: 18 of 20.

Completion

Safety Training Complete

Complete after passing the required quiz.

Reminder: Safety training supports, but does not replace, mentor supervision, signed team agreements, and task-specific tool training.