Building a Team Safety Manual and Running Inspections

From rules to a real program#

Knowing the rules is step one; a team safety program is how you make safe behavior the default. FIRST recommends every team implement a safety program covering all aspects of the season, and Appendix D explicitly asks teams to develop and document a safety program reflecting their culture and the elements of the Safety Manual. This documented program is also what judges look for when assessing your culture of safety — which, remember, is now required for eligibility for any award.

What to put in your team safety manual#

Use the official Safety Manual as your skeleton and adapt it to your space. A solid team safety manual typically includes:

• Roles: who the Safety Captain is, sub-team safety leads, and how to escalate concerns.
• PPE policy: what's required, where it's stored, and how it's inspected.
• Shop rules: tool checkout, machine training and sign-off, who may operate each machine, and lockout of broken equipment.
• Energy procedures: the de-energize sequence (open the 120A breaker, unplug the battery, vent pneumatics to zero, relieve springs).
• Battery procedures: charging, inspection (Battery Beak thresholds), spill response, and disposal.
• Emergency plan: location of first aid, fire extinguishers (including Class C), exits, the SDS binder, and an event meeting spot with a participant roster.
• Training log: who has been trained on what, and when (including the UL Solutions/FIRST Safety Learning Portal courses) — bring it to events.

Run inspections with the official tools#

The Safety Manual ships two ready-to-use tools:

• Appendix A — Safety Checklist: a Yes/No/Not-applicable list covering Hand & Portable Tools, Chemicals, Electrical, Team Pit, Approved PPE, and Respect for Stored Energy. Sample questions: Are guards and safety devices in place and operational? Are SDSs available and team members aware of them? Are electrical outlets overloaded? Is the battery charger situated so air circulates? Are batteries in visibly good condition with unbent terminals and no cracks? Does the area conform to the 10-foot height restriction?
• Appendix B — Corrective and Preventative Action Plan: for any "no" on the checklist, log the ID, the description and action, the date initiated, the date closed, and the responsible person. (The manual's example: an unsafe shelf placed while standing on stacked crates → action: use a small ladder to assemble and dismantle the pit.)

Run the checklist at your shop regularly and again in your pit at every event — the Safety Captain conducts these inspections, and closing out corrective actions is how a team demonstrably improves.

Workspace housekeeping the manual specifically asks about#

The "Safety in Your Workspaces" section adds environment checks worth building into your routine: keep stored items at least 18 inches below sprinkler heads with nothing blocking sprinkler heads; keep stacks stable; store heavy or bulky items below shoulder level; keep floors free of slipping and tripping hazards; and ensure lighting is sufficient for the detail of work.

Make it a habit, not an event#

The most effective teams treat safety the way the Safety Managers do — coaching, positive reinforcement, and public recognition rather than punishment. Give a short safety briefing to new members, celebrate your Safety All Star nominees, and keep iterating your manual each season. A documented, lived safety program protects your people, strengthens your award case, and builds a skill every member carries into their future workplace.