Answers.Body: <p>The most obvious risk is swallowing parts, even though at that age it's probably less likely to happen. Magnets are the most dangerous, but LEGO has done a good job of hiding them recently.</p>
  
  <p>Projectiles are also a risk, whether they are intended as such or not. Actual LEGO lauching machanisms (zamor spheres launchers, for example) can be quite dangerous and there's always an icon in the instructions to warn children of that risk.</p>
  
  <p>Electrical parts can be hazardous, in particular if liquids are close. Although LEGO does a good job of protecting its parts (I've heard PF motors run wel even underwater), be particularly careful of mains adapters.</p>
  
  <p>Spinning parts. It's fun, until you pinch you finger between two fast-spinning gears. Why do you think the saw blade <a href="http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=8113-1">first introduced with exo-force</a> doesn't have a cross axle hole?</p>
  
  <p>Pointy parts. LEGO tries to make them as soft as possible nowadays, or rubbery when possible.</p>
  
  <p>And then there's the possible frustration of not being able to make the exact same creation that you have in mind.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-28T19:02:46.010Z
Answers.Text: Electricity is such a minor issue. Kids won't get hurt unless they strip the wires and jam them through the skin into their chest next to their heart.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Pubby
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-28T18:54:52.733Z
Answers.Text: Is the electric hazard a real and documented hazard, or more of a perceived hazard?  I'm just sort of wondering if the voltage is ever high enough to cause any actual damage.
Answers.UserDisplayName: ascendlyJJ
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-28T17:53:29.233Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-10-28T17:53:29.233Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Joubarc
Answers.Body: <ol>
  <li><strong>Make sure the kids avoid separating pieces with their teeth.</strong> Give them some brick separator tools and teach them to use them. </li>
  <li><strong>Sharing is very important!</strong> You don't want another kid bopping someone in the head because they stole their piece. If you don't have enough of a certain piece for everyone then don't include that piece.</li>
  <li><strong>If using projectiles only use 1 missile at a time.</strong> Safer to go 1 at a time than having 50 at a time. Also remember that kids only need the "cannon" while designing, not the missile.</li>
  </ol>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-28T21:03:29.807Z
Answers.Text: 4. **Never aim projectiles at anyone's face.**
Answers.UserDisplayName: LegoSonicBoy
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-28T18:57:10.637Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-10-28T18:57:10.637Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Pubby
Answers.Body: <p>If possible, give the kids large, rimmed trays (or even the lids from storage boxes) to keep their loose elements in.</p>
  
  <p>This will reduce the number of pieces that fall on the floor and get stepped, knelt or sat on.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-28T19:00:26.763Z
Answers.Text: I think this is a good tip, but not much of a safety issue.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Pubby
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-31T13:04:45.840Z
Answers.Text: A friend suggested this funny video on brick safety: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DCBhyskisVNM&h=pAQF-QzJqAQGn7AcJQeW_2ZCAg8-T_dznz6h4HuLprZTNJg
Answers.UserDisplayName: ascendlyJJ
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-11-01T20:41:25.170Z
Answers.Text: [Direct link to above video](http://youtu.be/CBhyskisVNM) instead of linking through Facebook, which is a privacy concern.
Answers.UserDisplayName: TRiG
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-28T17:43:25.130Z
Answers.Text: I wonder how much of a risk there is to slipping on a brick?  Especially considering most school have those very hard floors.
Answers.UserDisplayName: ascendlyJJ
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-28T17:49:20.133Z
Answers.Text: My students often use a cafeteria tray.  I introduced them, originally, to just keep the mess confined, sort of anchoring the activity, even if not everything stays on the tray.  A tray has an added benefit of providing a hard surface for building on, useful with carpet.
Answers.UserDisplayName: ascendlyJJ
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-28T17:34:34.970Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-10-28T17:34:34.970Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Answers.Body: <p>Never fire bricks towards another persons face. There are certain sets that provide mechanisms to fire bricks such as the <a href="http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=8630-1" rel="nofollow">Agents: Gold Hunt</a> set. The missiles are rubber tipped to minimise damage. </p>
  
  <p>If your school students are tasked with a project that involves projectiles I'd make sure they wear safety goggles, Especially if it involves non-lego parts or motors.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-28T17:43:37.050Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-01-07T18:49:15.753Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2012-01-07T18:49:15.753Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Ambo100
Answers.Body: <p>Don't lift too many bricks at one time.  Being slightly older, I find a bag full of bricks can actually get heavy.  I recently pulled a back muscle lifting a bag of 9,000 bricks.  Hmmm, need to lift with my knees!</p>
  
  <p>Granted, most people won't encounter this problem, I'm just saying....</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-29T17:07:02.020Z
Answers.Text: Why is this getting downvoted.  A down-vote without an explanation is very discouraging.
Answers.UserDisplayName: ascendlyJJ
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-28T17:23:05.423Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-10-28T17:23:05.423Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: ascendlyJJ
Body: <p>I run an after school program that teaches engineering to kids, mainly Kindergarten through 3rd grade (roughly ages 5 - 9).  I'm trying to educate my coaches as to the known safety risks regarding using LEGO bricks, so that they can be forewarned and can take steps to avoid them.  I think reading about specific, known cases, would be most helpful, along with any non-obvious preventative measures.</p>
  
  <p>Anything that applies to class-safety would probably apply to home safety, too.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2012-07-20T01:23:13.440Z
Comments.Text: When I asked this question, I was finishing up a blog entry on the topic, which incorporated some of the answers given here.  You can see the final article here: http://www.ascendly.com/page/lego-safety-how-not-to-choke-break-a-tooth-lose-an-eye-or-throw-out-your-back/
Comments.UserDisplayName: ascendlyJJ
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2013-01-15T08:38:11.200Z
Comments.Text: Also, wear shoes at all times.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Joubarc
Tags: <safety>
Title: LEGO Safety: Known risks and how to avoid them?
UserDisplayName: ascendlyJJ
ThreadText: # LEGO Safety: Known risks and how to avoid them?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2011-10-28)
  
  I run an after school program that teaches engineering to kids, mainly Kindergarten through 3rd grade (roughly ages 5 - 9). I'm trying to educate my coaches as to the known safety risks regarding using LEGO bricks, so that they can be forewarned and can take steps to avoid them. I think reading about specific, known cases, would be most helpful, along with any non-obvious preventative measures.
  
  Anything that applies to class-safety would probably apply to home safety, too.
  
  **Tags:** safety
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: When I asked this question, I was finishing up a blog entry on the topic, which incorporated some of the answers given here.  You can see the final article here: http://www.ascendly.com/page/lego-safety-how-not-to-choke-break-a-tooth-lose-an-eye-or-throw-out-your-back/  
  > **username_1**: Also, wear shoes at all times.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 5 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2011-10-28. Score: 14
  
  The most obvious risk is swallowing parts, even though at that age it's probably less likely to happen. Magnets are the most dangerous, but LEGO has done a good job of hiding them recently.
  
  Projectiles are also a risk, whether they are intended as such or not. Actual LEGO lauching machanisms (zamor spheres launchers, for example) can be quite dangerous and there's always an icon in the instructions to warn children of that risk.
  
  Electrical parts can be hazardous, in particular if liquids are close. Although LEGO does a good job of protecting its parts (I've heard PF motors run wel even underwater), be particularly careful of mains adapters.
  
  Spinning parts. It's fun, until you pinch you finger between two fast-spinning gears. Why do you think the saw blade [first introduced with exo-force](http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=8113-1) doesn't have a cross axle hole?
  
  Pointy parts. LEGO tries to make them as soft as possible nowadays, or rubbery when possible.
  
  And then there's the possible frustration of not being able to make the exact same creation that you have in mind.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Is the electric hazard a real and documented hazard, or more of a perceived hazard?  I'm just sort of wondering if the voltage is ever high enough to cause any actual damage.  
  > **username_2**: Electricity is such a minor issue. Kids won't get hurt unless they strip the wires and jam them through the skin into their chest next to their heart.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2011-10-28. Score: 11
  
  1. **Make sure the kids avoid separating pieces with their teeth.** Give them some brick separator tools and teach them to use them.
  2. **Sharing is very important!** You don't want another kid bopping someone in the head because they stole their piece. If you don't have enough of a certain piece for everyone then don't include that piece.
  3. **If using projectiles only use 1 missile at a time.** Safer to go 1 at a time than having 50 at a time. Also remember that kids only need the "cannon" while designing, not the missile.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: 4. **Never aim projectiles at anyone's face.**  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2011-10-28. Score: 8
  
  If possible, give the kids large, rimmed trays (or even the lids from storage boxes) to keep their loose elements in.
  
  This will reduce the number of pieces that fall on the floor and get stepped, knelt or sat on.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: I wonder how much of a risk there is to slipping on a brick?  Especially considering most school have those very hard floors.  
  > **username_0**: My students often use a cafeteria tray.  I introduced them, originally, to just keep the mess confined, sort of anchoring the activity, even if not everything stays on the tray.  A tray has an added benefit of providing a hard surface for building on, useful with carpet.  
  > **username_2**: I think this is a good tip, but not much of a safety issue.  
  > **username_0**: A friend suggested this funny video on brick safety: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DCBhyskisVNM&h=pAQF-QzJqAQGn7AcJQeW_2ZCAg8-T_dznz6h4HuLprZTNJg  
  > **username_5**: [Direct link to above video](http://youtu.be/CBhyskisVNM) instead of linking through Facebook, which is a privacy concern.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2011-10-28. Score: 8
  
  Never fire bricks towards another persons face. There are certain sets that provide mechanisms to fire bricks such as the [Agents: Gold Hunt](http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=8630-1) set. The missiles are rubber tipped to minimise damage.
  
  If your school students are tasked with a project that involves projectiles I'd make sure they wear safety goggles, Especially if it involves non-lego parts or motors.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_0 on 2011-10-28. Score: 6
  
  Don't lift too many bricks at one time. Being slightly older, I find a bag full of bricks can actually get heavy. I recently pulled a back muscle lifting a bag of 9,000 bricks. Hmmm, need to lift with my knees!
  
  Granted, most people won't encounter this problem, I'm just saying....
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Why is this getting downvoted.  A down-vote without an explanation is very discouraging.  
  
  ---
  
  