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Student soldering safety procedures, share what works

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2026 5:00 am
by rina_stem
First year teaching soldering to grade 11. Want to draft real safety procedures, not just "be careful."

My current draft:
  • Safety glasses always when iron is on, no exceptions
  • Hair tied back if longer than collar
  • Soldering only at designated benches (ceramic top, fire-resistant)
  • Wet sponge OR brass curl always on bench
  • "Iron is hot, assume forever" rule, treat cold-looking iron as hot
  • Hands washed after every session, before food
  • No solo soldering, two-person minimum so help available
Lead solder vs lead-free: I want lead-free for student safety. Pricier but no heavy-metal exposure concerns.

What else am I missing? Other teachers, what incidents have you had despite procedures?