This thread will summarize posts from members, about safety when it comes to all types of RC activities.  Please note that we do not want to cut and paste from other sources.

General safety tips

1.  One of the biggest hazards is the use of lipo batteries without adequate care.  Some information related to this is available at : http://www.rcindia.org/batteries-and-chargers/taking-care-of-lipos/ .

2.  Always turn on your transmitter first, and make sure the right model is selected before powering up the receiver.

3.  Do not fly directly above your head, above vehicles, or behind your back in the spectator area.  Do not fly into the sun.

4.  If you are using an FM tranmistter (72Mhz, 40Mhz, 35Mhz etc), always check with co-flyers if they are on the same band and channel as you are. This is not applicable to 2.4Ghz radios.


Plane specific safety tips

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Heli specific safety tips

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Car specific safety tips

1.

Academy of Model Aeronautics Bring Modelers Together

EMERGENCY SAFETY ALERT

Lithium Battery Fires
Lithium batteries are becoming very popular for powering the control and power systems in our models. This is true because of their very high energy density (amp-hrs/wt. ratio) compared to NiCd's or other batteries. With high energy comes increased risk in their use. The principal risk is FIRE which can result from improper charging, crash damage, or shorting the batteries. All vendors of these batteries warn their customers of this danger and recommend extreme caution in their use. In spite of this, many fires have occurred as a result of the use of Lithium Polymer batteries resulting in loss of models, automobiles, and other property. Homes and garages and workshops have also burned. A lithium battery fire is very hot (several thousand degrees) and is an excellent initiator for ancillary (resulting) fires. Fire occurs due to contact between Lithium and oxygen in the air. It does not need any other source of ignition, or fuel to start, and burns almost explosively. These batteries must be used in a manner that precludes ancillary fire. The following is recommended:

   1. Store, and charge, in a fireproof container; never in your model.

   2. Charge in a protected area devoid of combustibles. Always stand watch over the charging process. Never leave the charging process unattended.

   3. In the event of damage from crashes, etc, carefully remove to a safe place for at least a half hour to observe. Physically damaged cells could erupt into flame and after sufficient time to ensure safety, should be discarded in accordance with the instructions which came with the batteries. Never attempt to charge a cell with physical damage, regardless of how slight.

   4. Always use chargers designed for the specific purpose, preferably having a fixed setting for your particular pack. Many fires occur in using selectable/adjustable chargers improperly set. Never attempt to charge Lithium cells with a charger which is not specifically designed for charging Lithium cells. Never use chargers designed for Nickel Cadmium batteries.

   5. Use charging systems that monitor and control the charge state of each cell in the pack. Unbalanced cells can lead to disaster if it permits overcharge of a single cell in the pack. If the batteries show any sign of swelling, discontinue charging and remove them to a safe place outside as they could erupt into flames.

   6. Most important: NEVER PLUG IN A BATTERY AND LEAVE IT TO CHARGE UNATTENDED OVERNIGHT. Serious fires have resulted from this practice.

   7. Do not attempt to make your own battery packs from individual cells.

These batteries CANNOT be handled and charged casually such as has been the practice for years with other types of batteries. The consequence of this practice can be very serious resulting in major property damage and/or personal harm.

Safety Committee
Academy of Model Aeronautics
5161 E Memorial Drive
Muncie, IN 47302

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DcpANRFrI4&feature=related

Control Your Aircraft Controller
Before you run your RC: Controller on first, aircraft on second. Never turn your RC airplane or helicopter on with your controller off. Another controller in the area may take over and fly your airplane or helicopter into a tree, a power line, or right into the ground.

After you run your RC: Aircraft off first, controller off second.Never turn your controller off with your plane or helicopter on. Stray signals from other RC remotes can, and most likely will, take control of your airplane or helicopter. Results of remote takeover can be disastrous.

Give Yourself Enough Flying Room
Indoor Flight:
Make sure that you are not in a crowded area -- even the best of pilots can lose control and the blades of a helicopter can really hurt someone. Make sure you have enough room to maneuver around furniture and hanging obstacles (fans, lights, etc.). Be sure there is enough turning room to avoid crashing into walls and damaging your aircraft.

Outdoor Flight:
Make sure that your operating area is free of power lines and trees. The last thing you want after dropping a lot of money into your RC plane / helicopter is for it to be fried by a high-voltage wire or for it to tear itself apart in a tree. Avoid flying over crowds or vehicular traffic - you don't want to crash into people or cars.

Don't Fly on real Windy Days
If it seems too windy outdoors to fly, it probably is. Your RC plane or helicopter doesn't stand much of a chance against wind so it really isn't worth the risk. Even if you are able to get your aircraft into the air, gusts of wind can cause crashes and could send your aircraft into dangerous areas such as a crowd of people, a tree, or the side of a building.

If you can't fly indoors, wait for a very still, windless day to fly your RC aircraft.

Handle and Store Nitro Fuel Safely
Fueling: Nitromethane or nitro fuel is highly flammable. Just as you shouldn't smoke while fueling the family car, avoid smoking and open flames around the nitro fuel for your RC. When fueling your nitro RC, wipe up any spills and properly dispose of fuel-soaked rags.

Handling: At the park or track it's common to carry fuel in a quick-fill bottle. To insure that you don't get your fuel mixed up with someone else's (who might be running a different mixture) label your fuel bottle with your name. If you're running multiple RCs with different fuel mixtures, color-code your bottles to avoid mix-ups.
Storage: As with gas cans stored at home, store your nitro fuel away from open flames (next to the hot water heater with its lit pilot light is not a good storage idea). Keep the container tightly capped to avoid evaporation. Don't store nitro fuel in a damp location either as the fuel attracts moisture and water in the fuel will render it weak and could be harmful to your nitro engine.

"By Michael James"

This thread has documentation of some serious accidents :

http://www.rcindia.org/electric-planes/propeller-accident/

Always have the running car in front of you... Never lose its sight because cars have become a lot faster and they can REALLY hurt someone... never have someone near the jump zone

Soem serious discussions , here,
http://www.rcindia.org/rc-general-topics/aero-modeling-and-you/msg53215/#new

http://blog.hobby-lobby.com/wing-world-rc-model-airplanes/how-i-almost-cut-my-thumb-off-safety-notice-warning-graphic-photos/

An incident on our field last weekend.  Please be careful !

http://rcqatar.com/airplanes/safety-suggestion-program-throttle-hold-for-your-planes!!/

Here is something (I hope it is fake) that one should NEVER do, not even in front of RC planes !

Quote from: anwar on June 17, 2012, 11:55:47 AM
An incident on our field last weekend.  Please be careful !

http://rcqatar.com/airplanes/safety-suggestion-program-throttle-hold-for-your-planes!!/

Ouch!

Very useful and thought provoking, Anwar

Always wear shoes at the track. A 3Kg+ nitro buggy into your foot at full speed is not fun.

Like Divyam said, never lose sight of your car and be careful when it drives toward you.

Always set your failsafe and use throttle return springs if you use nitro.

Turn the Tx on before you power the Rx up and kill power to the Rx before turning the Tx off.

Whenever you make any driveline based adjustment, always take your pinion off. Similarly, when on a stand, take the tires off the car.