Accreditation
Woodworking is inherently a hazardous activity. The correct attitude towards your personal safety and that of others, as well as the care of tools and machinery, is imperative.
The Guild policy on Health and Safety is directly linked to the system of Accreditation for safe use of workshop equipment. All members should read and observe the Shed Rules and General Machine Safety notes prior to using equipment at the Guild
You do not need to be accredited to use the majority of the shed machinery but you must be supervised by a member who is accredited on that machine. Once you are accredited on that machine, you can use it unsupervised.
The two levels of accreditation
Focus on safety
- This is to ensure that you, the user, understand the risks associated with machine use and the measures to ensure that you operate the machine knowing what not to do as well as what to do. We will also ensure that you are able to keep the machine clean and tidy after each use, ready for the next person.
Focus on expert use
- This is done in specific workshops or courses. Special Interest Groups (SIGs) have training sessions related to equipment specifically used by SIG members. Timber mill use falls under the responsibility of the Timber Team, whose members develop knowledge and confidence through supervised usage, and is subject to a specific guild policy.
Accreditation on the machines listed below involves completing an online test and a practical session. Use of other machines at the shed is through supervision, experience and wider leaning opportunities.
It is highly recommended that you gain some exposure to the machines – through supervised use of the machines at the shed and personal research – prior to seeking accreditation. There is no need to do all the online tests at once. It is preferable that you have a project in mind which use the machines soon after attaining accreditation on them.
While Accreditation means members can operate Guild equipment unsupervised, members (whether new to woodwork or whose use of the Guild’s equipment is infrequent) are expected to ask for assistance of more experienced Guild operators until confident of independent use.
Our Accreditation Officer, who coordinates the accreditation workshops on the equipment most in demand by members, is Carol Croxford.
Scheduled accreditation sessions
Online test process
Members are required to complete safety accreditation tests for each machine that they intend to use. You must be logged in to access the accreditation tests as the results are recorded against your membership.
Safety Notes are available for all machinery and should be read before undertaking the corresponding online test.
The test does not certify competency in use nor expertise – these come with practice and diligence.
When you complete the test your results will be displayed on the screen. When you have successfully answered all questions, a printable certificate of completion will be emailed to you for your records. A copy of your test result will also be sent to the accreditation team.
If you encounter any technical problems with a test, contact web@woodcraftguild.org.au with the details of the issues.
Practical test process
Completion of the safety accreditation test allows you to do a practical test with an accredited assessor. Register your interest with the team so your practical session can be scheduled. Identify which machines, in priority order, you are interested in and indicate when you are available to attend a practical session e.g. week days, weekends, evenings. Including a bit of background of why and when you need the accreditation helps scheduling these sessions too.
Once this step is completed you may use the machine unsupervised, or may assist others who are not yet accredited.