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Peace and Safety In The Glass Studio

Sources: South Texas College, Health and Safety Manual
                Bullseye Glass Manurfacturer

Communal Responsibilites

Please help contribute to maintaining a calm and peaceful atmosphere in our studio by preventing unnecessary noise. 

Leave work areas clean and empty for the next person, at least as clean as it was when you started, or better.

  • 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.

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.

Trash

  • Take any heavy personal garbage (broken bisqueware, etc.) directly to the dumpster outside the building.

  • Empty garbage cans as needed.

  • 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.

If you keep any food in the refrigerator label and date the food so that it doesn't get old and forgotten.

Security

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.

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.

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.

  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 and powder

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.

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.

ThinFire Shelf Paper

When fired, disintegrates into a dusty tissue that can irritate eyes, skin, and respiratory system.

a) 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.

b) 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.

Wax

Overheated and burning wax produces acrolein and aldehydes, which are respiratory irritants and suspected human carcinogens.

Avoid overheating wax. No respirator filters out all of the hazardous components present in wax vapors. Steam wax out of molds rather than burning it out.

Plaster

Skin, eye, and respiratory irritant. Contains mild alkalis and can produce burns.

Plaster may only be used outside of the building. It does not mix well with clay.

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.

Silica

Irritates respiratory system. Long- term exposure may cause silicosis.

Wear a NIOSH-approved particulate respirator and use local ventilation.

Talc

Respiratory irritant. Dusts may irritate the eyes.

Wear safety goggles and a NIOSH-approved respirator and use local ventilation.

Enamels

May contain heavy metals.

Wear protective gloves. Do not wash down drain. Consult MSDS for further information.