Mini-Project: Assemble a Competition Pit Safety Kit

When a UL Safety Advisor walks into your pit, the kit and the binder tell most of the story. This project assembles both.

Part A - The physical kit. Stage these in a labeled, easy-to-reach bin or wall pocket:

• First aid kit - stocked and within date; include burn gel and eyewash since you handle batteries and hot motors.
• Battery spill / acid-neutralizing kit - even sealed SLA batteries can crack; have baking soda, nitrile gloves, and a sturdy plastic bin to quarantine a damaged battery for recycling.
• Fire extinguisher - a multi-purpose unit rated for electrical (Class C) fires, appropriate for the electrical hazards present. Tag it with its last inspection date.
• Safety glasses - a surplus of loaner glasses (ANSI Z87.1) so every visitor in your pit is covered; eye protection is required in the pit at all times.
• PPE extras - gloves, hearing protection for loud operations, and hair ties / a 'secure loose hair and clothing' reminder card.
• SDS (Safety Data Sheets) binder - one sheet per chemical you bring (Loctite, lubricants, batteries, adhesives).

Part B - The safety binder (the paper trail judges and advisors read): the FIRST Safety Manual and event rules, tool manuals, your team safety-training records, a list of CPR/First-Aid-certified members and machine-operator certifications, your LOTO and battery procedures, a safety event log, and a one-page fire-extinguisher guide using PASS = Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep.

Part C - The posted pit checklist. Write a short laminated card and run it at the start of each event day. Real inspection focus items advisors look for:

• No daisy-chained / overloaded power strips (a top finding).
• Everyone wearing safety glasses, including visitors.
• No food or open drinks in the work area.
• Loose hair, hoodie strings, and lanyards secured around moving machinery.
• Robot never moved through crowds without a spotter, and never carried by one person if it needs two.
• Lift with the knees, not the back, when moving the robot on/off the cart.

Part D - Name a visible Safety Captain. A student Safety Captain who inspects the pit and answers safety questions is a long-standing best practice. Make them identifiable with a button, hat, cape, or high-visibility vest - but avoid anything resembling a FIRST volunteer uniform (such as an orange or yellow cap or a red or black vest) so they are not mistaken for event staff. The deliverable: a fully stocked, inventoried kit plus the laminated checklist, photographed for your binder.