Ceramics Safety

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Ceramics Safety
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• The importance of working safely and Studio
  Cleanup

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Working with Clay
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• People have been working with clay for
  thousands of years. It is a critical component
  of many important events throughout the course of
  human history. Once fired, Clay is permanent. It
  lasts forever. But in order to work with this
  material one must be mindful and understand how
  to minimize the risks.

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Working safely with Clay
In order to work safely it is important to
understand the material you are working with.
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• Clay is very abundant. If you gathered it all up
  and spread evenly over the surface of the earth,
  you would create a mud layer a mile in thickness.
  
• Clay is alumina, silica and chemically bonded
  water.
• In its moist form clay is completely nontoxic.
  Dry clay however can be very dangerous.

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How can clay be dangerous?
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• Clay is a very small hexagonal-plate-shaped
  particle material and can range from 100 microns
  (µ) to 0.1µ in size depending on the specific
  type of clay. (A micron is 1/1000 of an inch.)
  Potentially, the most hazardous particle sizes
  are below 10 microns, and potters should try to
  cut down the inhalation of particles to safe
  levels.
• The most dangerous clay dust cannot be seen. The
  particles are small enough that they can be
  airborne.
• Once inhaled they are too heavy to be exhaled and
  settle in the lungs.
• Long term exposure can lead to silicosis and
  other respiratory problems.
• Remember as long as clay is moist it is
  completely nontoxic!

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Working safely with clay
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• Be sure to keep your piece damp.
• Always wrap and bag your work. Once it is dry it
  can no longer be worked with.
• Never sand or scrape dry clay.
• Sanding and scraping dry clay produces large
  amounts of dust. Use a damp sponge to smooth dry
  clay pieces before firing.
• Minimize the amount of dust you create.
• The less dust you create the better. If you are
  doing something that generates dust, Stop!
• Cleanup!!!
• Be sure to clean up after yourself. This includes
  the area where you work, the storage area and the
  tools that you use.
• Cleanup is critical to a safe working
  environment!

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Studio Cleanup
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• The key to working safely is
• keeping the Ceramics room clean.
• All students are required to do the following to
  help ensure a safe working environment
• Clean up after yourself!
• This includes your tools, tables and any other
  area where you work.
• Clean and sponge your shelf weekly.
• Shelves will be checked weekly. Be sure that they
  are clean and organized.
• Do not generate dust!
• If something you are doing is creating dust,
  Stop. Ask and we will find a dust free
  alternative.