RE: Crate shop equipment

["bryan cooke" <bryan@cookescrating.com>]

 Adequate working space around power tools and equipment is not a negotiable
issue. It is a liability issue -- and an ethical issue.  If cramped working
spaces, inadequate ventilation, poor lighting and other hazards result in
injury to an employee, it will cost the museum dearly.  And it would be
particularly indefensible if the woodworking shop was intentionally reduced
from an adequate working space to an inadequate size.  Every employer has a
responsibility to make certain employees have a safe working environment.
These are the arguments you can use to keep the working space at the same
square footage. The administration may not be happy to hear about this, but
they will need to take you seriously -- now that they have fair notice about
the possibility for potential future liability.  Best regards, Bryan Cooke

-----Original Message-----
From: pacinlist-bounces@pacin.org [mailto:pacinlist-bounces@pacin.org] On
Behalf Of Katie Welty
Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 6:34 AM
To: PACIN ListServ
Subject: Re: Crate shop equipment

Jim,

We absolutely agree! Unfortunately we have to do the research to prove our
argument.
Our current space is great and we hope to obtain at least an equal space if
it has to move to a different location in our building.

Thank you for your advice. 

Regards,
Katie

Thanks for your advice.

Jim Bodell wrote:

>Katie,
>
>A smaller space is not a more efficient space when it comes to working 
>with wood, plastic, foam, etc.  Ask anyone who has worked in a wood 
>shop and they will tell you that you can never have enough tools or 
>work space.  The processes can be done with fewer tools but that 
>requires reconfiguring them for each varied task.  This results in time 
>wasted working on the tools not the materials.
>
>Generally, the size of a shop is dictated by the material, the 
>processes involved and the end product sizes.  I can't imagine that the 
>woodworkers at your facility are pleased with the prospect of a smaller 
>space in which to work. All the tools mentioned are necessary in 
>addition to large layout tables/workbenches and material storage.
>
>Additional equipment will make some processes easier but will require 
>additional space for proper and safe handling of the materials involved.
>This added equipment will not eliminate the need for your existing 
>equipment.
>
>This is just the humble opinion of a 40 year veteran woodworker. 
>
>Good luck,
>
>Jim Bodell
>Exhibitions Preparator
>Museum of Arts & Sciences
>Macon, GA
> 
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: pacinlist-bounces@pacin.org [mailto:pacinlist-bounces@pacin.org]
>On Behalf Of Katie Welty
>Sent: Monday, December 12, 2005 12:15 PM
>To: list@pacin.org
>Subject: Crate shop equipment
>
>The Brooklyn Museum's department of Planning and Architecture is 
>proposing to move our crate and packing shop and have asked us to 
>investigate new alternative saws that could result in a shop with less 
>equipment and thus requiring a smaller more efficient space.
>
>Currently, our crater/packer has a table saw, rip saw, band saw, 
>vertical wall saw, and a sander.  He cuts  wood, paper, foam and 
>plastics on this equipment. Is anyone familiar with alternative 
>equipment that may use heat or laser to cut foams and paper more 
>efficiently?  I would welcome your suggestions.
>
>Thank you,
>
>Katie Welty
>
>Registrar, Exhibitions and International Loans Brooklyn Museum 200 
>Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11238
>
>tel: 718-501-6337	fax: 718-501-6135
>
>
>  
>

--
Katie Welty
Registrar, Exhibitions and International Loans

Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11238

tel: 718-501-6337	fax: 718-501-6135