Cadmium
Used as a pigment in glazes. Can cause respiratory
diseases, osteoporosis, cancer and other problems.
For more information, see Article on Cadmium!
Display and Storage
Many potters don't like selling from their workshops, owing to the problems with interruption, but others have periodic sale days and have some of their pots on display when buyers come. A small area at the end of the studio, closed off so that everything isn't dusty, can be set aside for this purpose. This space is also a pot storage area, somewhere for the pots to go before they are sold and to hold any build up of stock.
Open footwear, eg. sandals, etc, are inadequate.
Full protection is needed for your feet.
Keep your people safe
Keep hazardous material under supervision and away from children and untrained personnel. Always keep hazardous and toxic materials in their appropriate workspace. Do not move them into a situation that would allow them to become a hazard.
Vanadium Pentoxide
can cause Anemia; it a respiratory irritant.Uranium Compounds
cause kidney damage, not to mention the radioactivity.
For more information on Vanadium Pentoxide, Please see the Article: "Vanadium Pentoxide"
Wear welding goggles when looking into a
glowing kiln, otherwise eye cataracts will develop
over the years.
Hands should be washed immediately and
thoroughly after handling glaze materials and any
other toxic minerals.
Potassium,Dichromate/Bichromate
is very poisonous. Can cause kidney failure and is
cancerous. Not recommended for tableware!
First Aid Kit, safety clothing, eye protection, gloves, etc.
should be easily accessible.
Floors should be kept clean. Clean up spilt clay,
slip and water and other materials immediately.
Materials should be stored in a dry place. The large wheeled airtight bins are great for this, and your back!
Plaster should be set aside from these materials.
Auto cut off and failsafes are preferable and
should be checked periodically.
Powercord extensions
Avoid use of extension cords where they may
intersect areas where traffic is most likely.
Make sure you wear a good dust mask when working with dry ingredients. Clay dust from greenware or from glaze components can get into the lungs and over the years cause emphysema. Whenever possible, wet mop your working area; never sweep with a broom, as this throws dust up into the air, which you might breath in.
Extreme care should be exercised when lifting
heavy articles. It is essential for the studio potter to be aware of correct lifting techniques otherwise
physical damage is inevitable. A trolley should be
used if nescessary.
Arrangement of benches, bins, storage areas,
etc., should allow maximum freedom of movement.
Mica, Muscovite,
Vermiculite,
may contain traces of asbestos. Inhalation of dust will
lead to lung irritation, possibly cancer.
Provide Safety gear
Provide control measures for the processes you are undertaking- clothing, masks, extraction systems and washing facilities. Maintain all equipment and have it serviced and checked for effectiveness.
Never turn off electrical appliances with wet
hands especially in combination with water on the
floor.
Fire extinguishers should be placed in an
accessible position near the studio. If a fire
developes in the studio and you are keeping a fire
extinguisher there, the heat may prevent you from
reaching it.
Loose clothing which may accidentally find its
way into operating machinery should also be avoided.
Similarly with long hair -- as above.
Food and drink is best consumed outside the
studio or in an area where contamination by
chemicals, dust in the air, etc., is minimal.
Accessibility of power and light switches: keep
switches and electrical cables away from water or if
this cannot be avoided sufficient protection against
contact should be made.
Copper
Salts are irritants to the skin, eyes, and mucous
membranes. Inhalation of copper dust and fume results
in irritation of the respiratory tract.
For more information on copper and its effects, Please see Article "Copper"
Areas set aside for plaster work should be
cleaned thoroughly after use. Buckets and other
materials used for this work should be for plaster
work only, minimizing the possibility of foreign
mattter fouling up clay.
Sulpher Dioxide
is a strong lung irritant and can form when firing
soluble metal salts.
Lead is an accumulative poison. It can be stored in the bone structure for years before a fatal dose is accumulated. Beware of raw lead forms, such as white or yellow lead, which are extremely toxic. Use lead frits instead. Do not use for tableware.
For more information on the effects of lead, Please see Article: "Lead"
Barium Carbonate
A dangerous form of barium, as it forms a soluble
chloride in the stomach and accumulates. It affects
muscles, in particular the heart, increasing its
excitability, leading to high blood pressure and
internal bleeding. Will penetrate the skin. Not
recommended for food ware, as it may leach.
Workshop OH&S
Do not smoke, drink or eat in the pottery workshop.
Chromates and Chromic Acid
may be cancerous. Will also enter the body through
the skin.
For more information on chrome and its effects, please see Articles: Chromium for Potters!
Don't put your hand into operating clay mixers
etc., or you may find yourself neatly blended into the
mix.
What precautions should I take in the studio?
How do I fire an electric kiln?
What are some stoneware glazes?
What Precautions when using dry ingredients?
How do I apply opaque stains ?
What should I keep in mind when designing my studio?
What tools do I need to start potting?
How do I best promote myself and my work?
What safety aspect should I keep in mind when working with glazes?
What should I remember when firing the kiln?
How do I best publicise my business?
How do I make a simple plaster mold?
How do I fire overglazes/lustres?
How do I create fine feature lines?
How and when sholuld I apply underglazes?
Are they Water or oil base stains?
Are any two kilns are exactly alike?
Can I use sand to stop glaze running onto shelves
Does greenware need to be dry before loading?
What is the history of the Potter´s Wheel?
What is The History of the Way of Tea
What is Celadon (Cheong-Ja) - the Stuff of Kings?
What is an overglaze marbleizer?
Is there a trick toThrowing Porcelain?
What are some stoneware glazes?
What are some good tools for decoration?
How do I apply texture to my piece?
Do I need kiln wash for bisque?
How do I refire a glazed piece ?
What must I remember when Raku firing?
How do I add decoration to my ceramics?
How do I care for my elements?
Does over firing produce poor colour in coloured glaze?s
What are some Black Firing Tips and Tricks?
What is the safest way to pack my ceramics?
How do I do a reduction firing?
automatic kiln sitter, should I trust it?
What are some tips for draining a mold?
What safety measures should I take with Raku Firing?
How do I attach a bat to the wheelhead?
What tools do I need for ceramics
What are suggested plate clay weights?
What do I need to get started?
What tools do I need to make a coil pot
How do I fire ceramic bisque ?
How do I recycle batches of clay quickly
What is the correct firing time?
How to I prepare and make slabs?
What materials are toxic in Ceramics?
Can Crackle glazes be used for food?
How do I avoid S cracks in wheel thrown ware
How do I get the press onside?
What are the Approx. firing times?
Ho do I avoid pitting and pinholes?
How do I decorate my ceramics?
How do I Bisque fire in an electric kiln?
How do I decorate my ceramics?
How do I apply crackle glazes ?
What effects can I achieve with a brush?
How do I Drain small pour holes?
How do I care for my new Kiln?
can I draw directly onto a piece?
How do I fire different bodies?
What is the humming in my new kiln?
What should I remember when firing a new kiln?
how do I get the best results in glazing?
How do I prevent dirt on my greenware?
How do I accomodate Clay Storage in my studio?
How do I prevent sagging during firing?
How do I load my brush for applying underglaze?
Why should I use pottery plaster?
How do I prevent glazes from settling ?
How do I create a woodtone effect?
What are some Doing well Quotes?
How do I care for my elements?
How do I store my throwing tools?
What is the history of Ceramics?
Why do I get black spots in my glaze?
How do I load my kiln for a glaze firing?
Guru Spotlight |
Carma Spence-Pothitt |