Peace and Safety in the Glass Studio
Sources:
South Texas College, Health and Safety Manual
Bullseye Glass
Material Hazard Precaution
Sheet Glass
Cullet
Billets
a) Cuts during scoring and breaking
b) Chips in the eyes during scoring and breaking.
c) Possible injury to the legs or feet during handling glass, scoring, and breaking.
d) Dust and powder are created during grinding. This may irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory system. If glass is ground extremely fine, the hazard depends on the solubility of any toxic metals it contains.
a) Gloves provide some protection against cuts but often hamper dexterity. Glass cuts are generally clean. Flush with hydrogen peroxide and bandage. Wear gauntlets when handling sheets over eight square feet.
b) Always wear eye protection. Safety glasses should have side shields. Goggles are recommended during grinding.
c) Always were closed toe shoes and long pants when cutting glass.
d) Use water when grinding, drilling, or polishing to keep tools and glass cool and to keep dust down. Clean up ground glass slag while it is still wet to prevent it from becoming airborne. When dealing with dry glass dust and powder, wear a NIOSH-approved respirator and replace the filter cartridge regularly. Use local ventilation.
Glass Frit & Powders
Dust and powder may irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory system. If glass is ground extremely fine, the hazard depends on the solubility of any toxic metals it contains.
Be cautious with frit from lead-bearing glass, as it may be both irritating and toxic.
-
When working with dry glass powder, always wear a NIOSH-approved respirator and replace the filter cartridge regularly.
-
Use local ventilation.
Shelf Primer and Kiln Wash
Silica dust. Inhaling can cause respiratory irritation. Long-term exposure may cause silicosis.
-
Wear a NIOSH-approved respirator when mixing dry powder or scraping fired shelves clean.
-
Use local ventilation.
ThinFire Shelf Paper
When fired, disintegrates into a dusty tissue that can irritate eyes, skin, and respiratory system.
-
Avoid contact with skin. Wear a respirator designed to filter particulates. Clean residual fibers from glass with running water. Dispose of used materials in a sealed plastic bag.
-
Avoid breathing residual dust. Vacuum kiln using a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter vacuum, or remove dust by saturating it with water and collecting in a plastic bag.
Ceramic fiber products
Fibers can irritate eyes, skin, and respiratory system, particularly when cut or torn. After firing, fiber products readily release dusts that may be dangerous to breathe.
-
Avoid contact with skin. Wear a respirator designed to filter particulates.
-
Clean residual fibers from glass with running water.
-
Dispose of used materials in a sealed plastic bag.
Firing
Kilns are potentially hazardous if they are installed or fired incorrectly.
Touching an element in an electric kiln can be fatal.
-
Kiln installation must be done with strict adherence to stringent fire codes.
-
All gas and electrical hookups must be done by a professional. Double check with your electrician to make sure that your electric kiln is properly grounded.
-
Firings should only be done by those with firing experience and a thorough understanding of all kiln functions and safety controls.
-
Never reach into an electric kiln unless all of the switches are turned off.
-
Electric kilns that are wired for 3 phase may pass electricity through the elements even when the kiln sitter timer is off. Since no kiln sitters are made for 3 phase wiring, manufacturers adapt them by adding a power relay after the kiln sitter. When the power relay becomes old, the relay may allow electricity to pass through even when the kiln sitter is off. If that is the case, one must turn off the switches to be sure no current is flowing through the elements. Since our power relays started to fail after 5 years, we are changing them every two years.
-
As an extra precaution, turn off the kiln at the circuit breaker if you vacuum it or insert any other good conductor into it.
Wax
Overheated and burning wax produces acrolein and aldehydes, which are respiratory irritants and suspected human carcinogens.
Overheated and burning wax produces acrolein and aldehydes, which are respiratory irritants and suspected human carcinogens.
Plaster
Skin, eye, and respiratory irritant. Contains mild alkalis and can produce burns.
Wear safety goggles and a NIOSH-approved respirator while mixing investment or divesting molds and use local ventilation. Wear gloves and/or use a protective cream on hands.
Plaster may only be used outside of the building.
It does not mix well with clay.
Communal Responsibilites
-
Being considerate of others
Please help contribute to maintaining a calm and peaceful atmosphere in our studio by being considerate of others with regards to sounds/noise.
Leave work areas clean and empty for the next person, at least as clean as it was when you started, or better. More IMPORTANT, it is dangerous to breathe dried clay dust, and the damage to the lungs is cumulative.
-
Wipe clay off surfaces with a damp sponge, including: stools, tables, and walls.
-
Clean the wheel, including: tray, work surface, wheel, side of wheel, legs.
-
Put bats away clean, not caked with clay.
-
Damp mop the floor around the area where you were working.
Communal Responsibilites
-
Care of the Studio - Plumbing
Take care when using the sink/tub area to get as little clay as possible in the sink.
-
Dump excess water into the large blue barrel
-
Scrape clay into recycling tub.
-
Clean trays in the tubs on the rolling cart.
-
Get a small amount of fresh water from the sink in your throwing bucket. Use that water and a sponge to clean your tools. Dump the dirty water into the blue barrel.
-
Add bleach to the water tubs, blue barrel, and sink as needed to keep the water from growing bacteria and breeding mosquitoes.
Equipment Safety
General Rules
-
Turn off and unplug electrical items after using them.
-
Put items you've brought out of storage back where you found them.
-
Use specialty equipment only after receiving proper training.
Fire Safety
If a fire starts it is imperative you exit the building calmly. Trampling others is the leading cause of injury and death in a fire in a commercial setting.
Security
-
We usually keep the doors locked with a key either in the lock or on the marble topped table.
-
Be mindful of your surroundings when entering and exiting the building.
-
Go in and out of the building with a buddy, if possible.
-
Park in the front on the street if you feel uncomfortable with the parting lot.
-
Take care when storing your personal belongings.
Communal Responsibilites
-
Care of the Studio - Trash, Refrigerator
Trash
-
Take any heavy personal garbage (broken bisqueware, etc.) directly to the dumpster outside the building.
-
If your garbage doesn't fit into a trash can inside, take it to the dumpster rather than leaving it on the floor next to a trash can for someone else to dispose of for you.
Be mindful of what you keep in the refrigerator.
-
throw it out when it is old
-
each person should monitor their own food rather than think someone else will take care of it.