Fwd: #FIKA Friday maker space

[Scott Vader]

repost from Pat Whalen

Scott

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Pat Whalen <pwh...@bnmc.org>
Date: Thu, Oct 2, 2014 at 9:18 AM
Subject: Re: #FIKA Friday maker space
To: Edward Tierney <edw...@brandmotherknowsbest.com>
Cc: Paul Buckley <pbuc...@asgrp.com>, Clark Dever <clark...@gmail.com>, Jessica Edwards <jedw...@bnmc.org>, Megan McNally <megan....@gmail.com>, Vic Nole <vn...@bnmc.org>, Scott Vader <sc...@vadersys.com>

The  Zahn Center in NYC seems to be a very good maker space model for us in WNY to research.  http://www.zahncenternyc.com/

After visiting Zahn and a couple of other maker spaces, I remain concerned about training/liability.  I suppose TechShop is able to handle this due to their scale.  

While our market is growing, I feel we are a long way from being able to hire specialists in all the various sectors as TechShop does. I fear filling a space up with equipment without specialists, it is a matter of time before somebody severs a body part on shared equipment.  

On the other end of the spectrum is the concept we were working on for the Innovation Center where companies would install prototyping equipment and they would operate that equipment.  This, I am afraid, would stifle creativity and maybe expensive.

Zahn has a little of both. They own plenty of stuff, especially 3d printers, and have people who know the stuff and can provide guidance.  But they also have partnerships with companies who can provide equipment and resources.    

Sent from my iPad, sorry about spelling.

Follow:

[Jordan L. Walbesser]

Scott, 

Even with specialists on site, liability is still an issue. Afterall, even specialists sever the occasional body part. 

Injury liability can be mitigated with insurance, training, and a good waiver. The last part is probably the most important - I bet other makerspaces have a good liability waiver system in place.

~Jordan

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[Douglas Borzynski]

Morning,

I know safety is definitely a concern. I used to run the safety program for a local food processor, we also had a voluntary yearly OSHA inspection (free) it also reduced our insurance rate. With insurance, we here at the museum use our insurance to provide some online training opportunities. Although liability will always be an issue I could provide training opportunities as needed (initial member, lock out tag out, hazmat, blood borne pathogen, and Personal Protection Equipment being the most regulated). The largest issue though is someone working alone at night on tools that they are not familiar with or they are just plain tired.

Doug

On Thu, Oct 2, 2014 at 9:28 AM, Scott Vader <sc...@vadersys.com> wrote:

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Thank you,

Douglas Borzynski

Facilitator of Learning

Buffalo Museum of Science

716.896.5200 ext. 341
 
Become a BMS Member or learn more about our exhibits, events and programs
at www.sciencebuff.org.
 
Inspiring curiosity through exploration.

[Scott Vader]

Megan and I met with Bob Manasier for lunch yesterday. He's one of the founders along with Laban Coblentz of Tech Valley Center of Gravity in Troy, NY, a hugely successful makerspace/hardware accelerator. 

I put the hazard and risk mitigation question to Bob: It's very important to the Center of Gravity to have a broad base of members of all ages and skill levels. They do a lot of work with school age children. The children will influence their parents to become members and they want to get kids making things early to plant the seeds for hardware startups to come. That would seem a daunting risk but it is not a large issue. There is a steady group of "grandparent" volunteers who naturally supervise everyone. The machines have state of the art safety protection and are well maintained, for example I was surprised that they have a table saw for member use but it has the impressive saw stop safety system. Polices are set and maintained for what age, training and whether direct supervision is needed for each machine. Members are banned for knowingly breaking the rules. They have appropriate insurance and a proven liability waiver.

Scott

Tech Valley Center of Gravity's existing location. They will be moving to a 20,000 sq ft location in the heart of downtown Troy, NY:

On Thursday, October 2, 2014 10:06:46 AM UTC-4, dborzynski wrote:

Morning,

I know safety is definitely a concern. I used to run the safety program for a local food processor, we also had a voluntary yearly OSHA inspection (free) it also reduced our insurance rate. With insurance, we here at the museum use our insurance to provide some online training opportunities. Although liability will always be an issue I could provide training opportunities as needed (initial member, lock out tag out, hazmat, blood borne pathogen, and Personal Protection Equipment being the most regulated). The largest issue though is someone working alone at night on tools that they are not familiar with or they are just plain tired.

Doug

On Thu, Oct 2, 2014 at 9:28 AM, wrote:

repost from Pat Whalen

Scott

---------- Forwarded message ----------

The  Zahn Center in NYC seems to be a very good maker space model for us in WNY to research.  http://www.zahncenternyc.com/

After visiting Zahn and a couple of other maker spaces, I remain concerned about training/liability.  I suppose TechShop is able to handle this due to their scale.  

While our market is growing, I feel we are a long way from being able to hire specialists in all the various sectors as TechShop does. I fear filling a space up with equipment without specialists, it is a matter of time before somebody severs a body part on shared equipment.  

On the other end of the spectrum is the concept we were working on for the Innovation Center where companies would install prototyping equipment and they would operate that equipment.  This, I am afraid, would stifle creativity and maybe expensive.

Zahn has a little of both. They own plenty of stuff, especially 3d printers, and have people who know the stuff and can provide guidance.  But they also have partnerships with companies who can provide equipment and resources.    

Sent from my iPad, sorry about spelling.

Follow:

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