Safety Considerations for Rube Goldberg Machines

Machine Base – Is the machine's support or base stable enough to:

• Safely support machine?
• Prevent structure movement?

Electrical

• Are all exposed electrical connections guarded or insulated to prevent contact?
• Are electrical power cords free from hazards, such as abrasion, fraying and pinching?
• Is there a need to ground an electrical enclosure or device?

Rotating Parts

• Are there exposed rotating shafts, belts, reciprocating parts or other mechanisms that could cause injury on contact?
• Can protective guards be installed to protect operators and spectators from accidental contact?

Projecting/Flying Parts

• Do flying objects – balls, other objects – have enough momentum to escape the machine's confines and injure operators or spectators?
• Do any stationary items project from the machine that might cause accidental injury? Can they be shielded to prevent possible injury?

Chemicals/Liquids

• Are chemicals used in that machine that might injury operators or spectators?
• Is an uncontrolled release of any chemical possible?
• Could liquids accidentally contact electrical components of machine?