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Safety

Safety First, S.P.A.M. Always!

At S.P.A.M. Robotics (FRC Team 180), safety is a crucial aspect of our operations and team management. For 27 years, we’ve built robots, inspired STEM leaders, and made a measurable impact in Martin County, FL, all while ensuring every student, mentor, and visitor stays safe. Whether we’re in our 65,000 sq ft S.P.A.M. Robotics STEM Center, competing at events like the 2025 FIRST Championship in Houston, TX, or preparing for the Indiana Robotics Invitational (IRI) in July 2025, our commitment to safety powers our success. With two regional wins, the FIRST Impact Award, the Autonomous Award, and Zach Dean’s Dean’s List Award in the 2025 season, we know that a strong safety culture is key to Speed, Power, and Maneuverability (S.P.A.M.)!

Meet Our Safety Captains: Addy & Emma

Our Safety Captain Team Co-Leads, Addy and Emma, both students at South Fork High School, ensure that safety is at the forefront of every S.P.A.M. activity. They lead training sessions, enforce best practices, and maintain a watchful eye during high-energy events like the Orlando and South Florida Regionals, where we clinched victories in 2025. Addy and Emma foster a culture of responsibility, ensuring every build, demo, and match runs smoothly and securely. Their leadership sets an example of Gracious Professionalism for the entire FIRST community, proving that safety and success go hand in hand.

S.P.A.M. Robotics Safety: A Proactive Approach

S.P.A.M. Robotics takes a structured, proactive approach to safety, integrating risk assessment, mitigation strategies, and general safety practices to protect our team and community. Here’s how we ensure safety at every step:

 
Risk Assessment and Mitigation

S.P.A.M. prioritizes safety through a comprehensive risk assessment process, ensuring our robotics program remains sustainable and secure:

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  • Identifying Potential Risks: We conduct brainstorming sessions with students and mentors to identify risks that could impact the team’s long-term viability, such as equipment failures, injuries, or logistical challenges during competitions.

  • Defining the Impact of Risks: We analyze the potential impact of each identified risk, considering factors like team operations, student safety, and program continuity.

  • Developing Mitigation Strategies: The team develops and implements plans to alleviate, manage, or accept identified risks, such as creating backup plans for travel or ensuring proper tool usage.

  • Scoring Methodology: S.P.A.M. utilizes a scoring methodology to prioritize risks based on their probability and potential impact, ensuring we address the most critical issues first.

  • Probability/Impact Diagram: We use a visual diagram to represent risk scores, helping us prioritize the most significant risks and allocate resources effectively.

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This systematic approach, led by Addy and Emma, ensures we’re prepared for any challenge, from build season to competition day.

General Safety Practices in Robotics

  • S.P.A.M. follows strict safety practices to protect everyone involved in our robotics program, aligning with FIRST Robotics Competition standards:

  • Keeping a Safe Distance: We ensure people stay outside the robot’s work area to avoid collisions, especially during testing and demos in our STEM Center.

  • Using Proper Lockout/Tagout Procedures: For non-routine tasks like maintenance and repair, we use lockout/tagout procedures to ensure equipment is properly shut off, protecting students and mentors from unexpected startups.

  • Interlinking Programming and Safety Devices: Our robot “Sonic” is programmed with safety devices like shutoff sensors and door interlocks, stopping operations if a sensor is tripped to prevent accidents.

  • Communication of Safety Rules: We regularly communicate and post safety rules in our STEM Center, reminding everyone of best practices to minimize human error. Signs like “Safety Glasses Required” and “No Open-Toe Shoes” are visible throughout our workspace.

  • Proper Training: All S.P.A.M. students and mentors are trained on the robot’s best practices, safety protocols, and maintenance procedures, with monthly refreshers led by Addy and Emma.

  • Emergency Stop: Everyone working with the robot has access to an emergency stop button, allowing quick halting of operations if needed, whether in the workshop or at competitions.

 
Safety Across All Operations

  • We apply these principles across all S.P.A.M. activities:

  • Workshop Safety: In our STEM Center, we enforce a “Safety First” checklist: wear safety glasses and closed-toe shoes, use tools only after training with mentor supervision, keep workspaces clean, and store batteries and chemicals safely per FIRST guidelines. Our Pit Crew, Varun and Tonna (South Fork High School), ensures these standards are met during build sessions.

  • Competition Safety: At events like the 2025 South Florida Regional, our Drive Team—Matthew Marini (Martin County High School), Isabella Bodea (Jensen Beach High School), Zach Dean (South Fork High School), Nathan Jones (homeschool, IRSC), and Nick DeGrazia (Martin County High School)—follows FIRST’s safety rules: wearing PPE, securing the robot during transport, and communicating clearly on the field. Addy and Emma conduct pre-match safety checks to keep “Sonic” competition-ready.

  • Outreach Safety: During community events like the Stuart Airshow and our LEGO Robotics camps (serving 145 kids over 3 years), we prioritize participant safety by supervising activities, using age-appropriate tools, and maintaining a first aid kit and emergency contact list on-site.

    For more safety practices, see S.P.A.M.'s Safety Book.

 
Safety Awards & Recognition

S.P.A.M.’s dedication to safety has contributed to our success in the FIRST community. At the 2025 South Florida Regional, our consistent safety practices supported our Autonomous Award win, as a safe robot is a reliable robot. Our safety culture also aligns with our FIRST Impact Award win at the Orlando Regional, where we showcased our commitment to community outreach and Gracious Professionalism.

 
Join Us in Building a Safe Future

Safety is a team effort, and we’re proud to lead by example in Martin County and beyond. Whether you’re a student, mentor, or supporter, you can help us continue this legacy. Join S.P.A.M. Robotics to build robots, inspire STEM leaders, and make safety a priority—because at S.P.A.M., we believe a safe team is a successful team! Email us at frcteam180@gmail.com to get involved, or follow our journey on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
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#SPAMRobotics #SafetyFirst #FIRSTInspires #SPAMProud

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