Content of CLEAPSS courses for Design and Technology teachers and technicians

The D&T technician: operating in the prep room and workshops safely and effectively    Back to course list

This one-day course is designed primarily for D&T technicians working in the resistant materials area who are new to the job, but will also be of use to experienced technicians. The course will essential health and safety and offer advice on the layout of the preparation area to ensure safe use of machines, safe storage of hazardous materials, methods of storing consumable materials, small components and valuable equipment. The course will also include advice and suggestions on tool storage in workshops and the establishment of a maintenance and checking systems for tools and machines.

Electrical Inspection and Testing    Back to course list

This one-day course (usually about 4½ hours, excluding any breaks) is designed mainly for science and technology technicians who will be carrying out electrical inspection and testing in schools and colleges but who have limited electrical knowledge. It may also be appropriate for other school staff who carry out electrical inspection and testing.

During the course, the following items will normally be covered.

• An introduction to electrical safety and the Electricity at Work Regulations.
• What the Regulations say and what they don't say.
• The object of the tests.
• The importance of the visual inspection, focusing on:
  mains plugs,
  cables,
  fuses.
• Using a Portable Appliance Tester and recording the results.
• Suitable types of Portable Appliance Tester.

• A typical item of electrical equipment to be tested.
• The portable appliance test machine on which training is required (if one is available).

Health and Safety Management for Heads of Design and Technology Departments or their Deputies    Back to course list

This one-day course is a mixture of talks and exercises. It includes: the need to reduce staff accidents as well as keeping accidents to students to a minimum; the law on health and safety; hazard, risk and risk assessment; the use of model risk assessments; management tasks and ways of meeting them. Identification of issues for immediate action.

This practical one-day course will provide D&T technicians with information on the essential maintenance of hand tools, portable electric powered tools and fixed machines. The course will cover sharpening of hand tools, including the use of grinding machines and oilstones, simple visual checks and maintenance of portable electric hand tools and the cleaning, lubrication and checking of workshop machines. Basic sharpening of cutting tools for some workshop machines will be included, but not the specialist work needed to sharpen circular saw blades, band saw blades and blades of wood planing machines, or the fitting of grinding wheels. The course will be practically based and will need access to a workshop with the machines to be covered. Those attending will need to bring a suitable overall and eye protection. Note that only a maximum of ten people can be trained at any one time for this course.