General Art Safety

The art making process can pose significant risks to the health and safety of artists. The guide below provides an overview of some of the most common risks associated with drawing & painting, woodworking, metalworking, ceramics, and photography, as well as how to properly dispose of wastes associated with art.

Responsibility for Safety in the Arts

Faculty

Faculty are responsible for:

Ensuring that students attend training and work safely
Ensure artists understand the potential health and physical hazards of the chemicals and equipment used
Explain proper and safe procedures for handling, under all circumstances, the hazardous substances used

Artists

Each student, faculty and staff member is expected to:

Attend training
Follow safe art making procedures and practices
Report all accidents, near misses, and potential chemical exposures to the Department Manager or the Manager of the art studio

Click here to view the art safety guide infographics, or continue reading below.

Drawing & Painting Safety

Hazards associated with drawing & painting:

Pigments
Solvents
Varnishes
Lacquers
Binders or vehicles that pigments are mixed with
Allergic reactions in certain individuals

Some materials may be carcinogenic or toxic by ingestion, inhalation, or absorbed through skin. Hazardous fumes may be produced when coated surfaces are heated.

Substitute less hazardous materials if possible.

Avoid use of pigments that contain toxic metals.

Do Not use solvents to clean your skin. Remove paint with oil then use soap and water.

Wash hands with soap and water after working with painting and drawing materials.

Woodworking Safety

Hazards associated with woodworking:

Wood itself
Tools used to shape wood
Preservatives that may be present in wood
Finishing compounds
Glues

Substitute less hazardous materials if possible.

Do Not use mechanical equipment unless properly trained.

Use Proper lifting techniques when handling heavy materials.

Clean floors and work surfaces after use.

Metalworking Safety

Melting metal can produce toxic gases as well as metal fumes.

Substitute less hazardous materials if possible.

Do Not use equipment until you have been properly trained.

Do Not let molten metal come in contact with water, grease, oil, or other organic materials.

Use a welding curtain to shield your work from others.

Never store chlorinated hydrocarbons or flammable materials near the welding area.

Ceramics Safety

Hazards associated with ceramics:

Preparing and molding the clay
Firing the clay
Glazing
Lead and other materials leaching into food and drink from pottery fired with certain glazes

Substitute less hazardous clays and glazes if possible.

Food and Drink are prohibited in all lab/studio spaces on campus

Do Not use kilns, mixers, or other pieces of equipment until you have been trained by a properly trained faculty member.

Wet Mop Floors and work surfaces daily to minimize dust levels.

Use proper lifting techniques when handling large bags of clay or other heavy materials.

Wear non-slip shoes in the mixer area or other areas where wet floors may be present

Wash hands with soap and water after working with clays and glazes

Photography Safety

Hazards associated with the developing process:

Allergic reactions in certain individuals
Some materials may be carcinogenic
Toxic by inhalation or ingestion
Possible toxins absorbed by skin

Substitute less hazardous materials if possible.

Do Not use processing chemicals or equipment until you have been properly trained.

Dispose of waste chemicals properly. Contact EHS for assistance if needed.

Wash hands with soap and water after working with processing chemicals.

Proper Waste Disposal

Oily Rags

Must be placed in designated cans.

Solvents

Paint thinner, turpentine, xylene, and alcohols are to be placed in proper safety cans or drums

Paints

May be mixed with solvents and linseed oil for disposal purposes
Oil-based paints are considered hazardous waste when being disposed
Latex paints must be dried out and placed in regular trash bins or collected by EHS

Linseed Oil

Because of flammability, linseed oil must be disposed of in the proper safety can
Rags with linseed oil contamination should be soaked with water before disposal

Ceramic Glaze

Some ceramic glazes contain metals that are considered hazardous waste
Unused portions of glaze must be disposed properly using the triple rinse buckets and the drum provided

Acids & Bases

Materials with a pH of less than 2 or more than 12.5 are considered hazardous waste
Do not mix these wastes together, with solvents, or with oil wastes; dangerous reactions may occur

Photographic Chemicals

Standard developers and rinses can be rinsed down the drain during processing
Most fixers contain silver and should be collected

Empty Chemical Containers

Empty chemical containers should be given to EHS

Handling Hazardous Waste

Materials that are hazardous waste must be placed in sealable containers
Containers must be kept closed when not in use
Waste containers must be labeled as hazardous waste as soon as the material is first put into the container

General Art Safety

Responsibility for Safety in the Arts

Faculty

Artists

Drawing & Painting Safety

Woodworking Safety

Metalworking Safety

Ceramics Safety

Photography Safety

Proper Waste Disposal

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