Housekeeping Hall of ....Issues

Weekly Walkthrough 9/1/21

Welcome to weekly walkthroughs. While I'll be walking the space daily, twice a week cleaning and safety issues will be posted to the teams and access status adjusted. I’ll be using this space to post safety hazards and housekeeping items, and to update teams ability to work or not based on what we find. This should emphasize that your space should be clean and organized both when you start and finish, no exceptions or excuses.

Because of the congressional staff visit the space is in general really good, and the CMA looks great. I found both bigger and smaller issues that have been neglected in the team spaces.

Please keep in mind that all of these issues are safety related, and are presented without bias so that they can be fixed and also so that all teams can learn from them.

GTMS: Grade D

I can't easily walk through the space and there are "things" covering things. Clear aisles, clean workspaces, and obvious paths for walking and working are the base level for maintaining operational status. Notes and photos below.

Verdict: GTMS is on cleaning only duty till proof of completion has been submitted and your welder is decommissioned (locked out) till a better solution can be presented. I’ll want your team to put together a presentation on why this isn’t acceptable for the next GB meeting. To be clear this is a big fire hazard.

Extension cord left running to grinder through space. This is both a trip and a fire hazard, extension cords are for temp use only and should be unplugged as soon as you’re finished.


The extension cord lead me to look at the outlet and I found this monster. There is no earth on which this is acceptable by safety standards. This is home brew, and I need to impress on all teams that if you need a power transfer solution let’s figure out something that isn’t this.


I went to unplug the plug monster from the wall so I didn’t have to touch it, and I found that the plug/outlet were blocked by a pile of material if you see my finger is pointing to the outlet behind all the sheets of metal.


After unplugging all the welders I found The head of one of the plugs in this system looked like this not only are the wires not covered but there’s damage on one the blades of the plug (looks like it’s been overheating)


Then just to round it out, this Aero tail got put back on top of the chemical cabinets, and while the decal says “don’t worry about it” I do actually worry about storage on top of a flammables cabinet. It’s not acceptable.


Fire extinguisher needs to be secured in some way. This is a problem in almost all spaces.


GTOR: Grade A-

Really clean, I like that I can walk through the space and around the car, workspaces are clean and neat. You're short of an A+ because of improper storage.

Verdict: Normal Operational Status: Get this stuff off the transformer and out of the way asap, and make a plan to move your welding setup.

storage in front of panel


storage on top/in front of transformer


Hy-Tech: Grade B-

Clean but cluttered. We're working on getting you more space, but your team has 3 work carts that are clogging your aisle and making it hard to work/walk/ or inspect. Peek at GTOR for a better example, and store the carts in the annex while not using them.

Verdict: Normal Operational Status: Make an operational plan that leaves the space navigable, move flammable items next to high voltage plug and do not replace

welder plug blocked by boxes


carts blocking aisle


Eco Car: Grade A

clean and capable of making a full lap of the vehicle. Car is on the ground when not being worked on. Only issue is 3 unsecured fire extinguishers.

Verdict: Normal Operational Status . Please find a way to secure your fire extinguishers (hook or cage)

Three fire extinguishers on the floor where they can all easily be knocked over. If this is for easy to grab and move closer to you, find a storage location that would prevent just knocking them over like bowling pins.


Solar: Grade A

Clean, and presentable, I can walk fully around the space. There are 3 unsecured extinguishers on a table in your space, if they're yours please secure them, if not lets figure out where they live and secure them there.

Three random fire extinguishers. same comment as Eco car. If this is to be able to easily move when working, we should define where they live when not mobile and make it harder to knock them over.


Wreck: Grade A

Clean, no obstructions. Oil drip pan left under parts that could make a mess. some loose components on floor.

Random parts on floor under car


Robo Jackets: Grade A-

Your shop space is clean and neat. and in general most things are put away. There are some things that need to be dealt with.


This pallet is sticking out into the passage space and is a trip hazard. Either cut it down or find a smaller pallet.


This isn't proper sheet storage. You should identify a space and make a rack that would keep these from falling or leaning like this.


Same issue as previous, but now it's blocking shelves.


A general note that this "beam" is not for hanging, and it's obvious that there's are kinks in the plates that bolt the 3 pieces together. I'm looking for stickers that can be attached that say "not for hanging" but we need to monitor this because if it continues to fail it will fall and there could injury or damage. Long term we should also investigate less heavy lighting.