Anne on fri 17 aug 07
Does anyone except me wonder why most ceramics company do not put labels
on their products to warn consumers of the dangers of inhaling dried clay
dust? Almost every other company in America is required to label all
potential toxins. It is especially important because it is not immediately
apparent that dried clay dust poses a threat to health. I worked with
porcelain for two years with absolutely no idea I was risking lung cancer
and silicosis.
I think it's time to insist that ceramics products manufacturers conform
to some kind of safety code.
Ceramics manufacturers seem to have their heads in the sand (literally)
concerning silica in their products. When I called "China Silk", a company
that produces porcelain slip the guy got irate at me even for asking about
the health risks involved in handling his product and hung up the phone.
I appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks, Anne
Lesley Anton on fri 17 aug 07
well - Laguna Clay company in LA does. It's very clear on the box.
We were always told that way back in school, too.
Lesley Anton Handmade Ceramic Lighting
www.lesleyanton.com
On Aug 17, 2007, at 8:20 AM, Anne wrote:
> Does anyone except me wonder why most ceramics company do not put
> labels
> on their products to warn consumers of the dangers of inhaling
> dried clay
> dust? Almost every other company in America is required to label all
> potential toxins. It is especially important because it is not
> immediately
> apparent that dried clay dust poses a threat to health. I worked with
> porcelain for two years with absolutely no idea I was risking lung
> cancer
> and silicosis.
> I think it's time to insist that ceramics products manufacturers
> conform
> to some kind of safety code.
>
> Ceramics manufacturers seem to have their heads in the sand
> (literally)
> concerning silica in their products. When I called "China Silk", a
> company
> that produces porcelain slip the guy got irate at me even for
> asking about
> the health risks involved in handling his product and hung up the
> phone.
>
> I appreciate any suggestions.
>
> Thanks, Anne
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> ________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
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> melpots@pclink.com.
om on fri 17 aug 07
On Aug 17, 2007, at 8:20 AM, Anne wrote:
> Does anyone except me wonder why most ceramics company do not put
> labels
> on their products to warn consumers of the dangers of inhaling
> dried clay
> dust? ... I think it's time to insist that ceramics products
> manufacturers conform
> to some kind of safety code.
Actually, what you are looking for exists in the form of
"MSDS" (material safety data sheet). Companies must write these to
comply with various Federal laws. MSDS's are far more extensive than
anything you could fit on a label -- most 3-6 pages long and
inlcuding risks, first aid, and preventative measures to take.
Laguna has a nice collection of these (you can also go directly to
manufacturer's websites or request them by mail):
http://www.lagunaclay.com/msds/dry-rawmaterials.php
Odin
anagama blog
http://www.anagama-west.com/firing_log
Ivor and Olive Lewis on sat 18 aug 07
Dear Anne,
At the risk of kicking a hornet's nest I will repeat information that I =
recently read.
Freshly made Silicate dust causes health problems. Ground silica that =
has been exposed to Air adsorbs a film of water. This prevents it from =
reacting chemically with Lung Fluids. The chemical arguments are complex =
and I am not sure I understand them !
However, I was under the impression that Silicosis was due to continual =
abrasion, as we breath, that caused lesions and scar tissue within the =
lungs. This leads to emphysema, a reduction of lung capacity and =
eventual death.
We are all entitled to ask our suppliers to provide data sheets relating =
to all aspects of their products.
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis.
Redhill,
South Australia.
Clayart SCtag on sat 18 aug 07
What is the rule for posting MDS sheets and telling students/patrons of a
ceramics program the information? We do not seem to have these laws here or
they are being ignored as both the colleges and art centers never bring them
to the student's attention in my recent experience?
************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at
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Dan Semler on sat 18 aug 07
Hi Ivor,
Do you have a reference for this information so I could read more
fully on it ?
>
> Freshly made Silicate dust causes health problems. Ground silica
> that has been exposed to Air adsorbs a film of water. This prevents
> it from reacting chemically with Lung Fluids. The chemical arguments
> are complex and I am not sure I understand them !
>
Thx
D
WJ Seidl on sat 18 aug 07
If you are in the US, the entity (school, establishment etc.) MUST
provide you with the MSDS information ONSITE in a binder so labelled .
The information must be current ,and the containers holding the
materials must be CLEARLY LABELLED. (This includes spray bottles.)
That is the FEDERAL law.
Period.
The law also states that you are to receive (from your distributor) a
copy of the MSDS EACH TIME you purchase some of the materials covered by
MSDS as well. (You can decline receipt if you purchase the materials
regularly.) If you do not get one, ask for one. They must comply BY LAW.
Trust me, if you mention it to the school, they will be happy to make
sure you know where it is (assuming they know).
If they do not have it available, the school safety officer's job is on
the line (and should be).
OSHA takes a VERY dim view of places that do not do so. I think OSHA
would be VERY interested in finding out
a school was not complying with the law. Trust me on this.
Even in our trucks, we have to keep copies of the MSDS sheets for the
materials we use, and all chemicals etc.
have to be labelled. (Yes, it is a royal PITA, but it's the law.)
All of our customers have to be given copies the MSDS for materials we
use in their facilities. that means new ones each time we change suppliers
or brands. Our way is to maintain our own binder, and keep it where the
chemicals are stored. We maintain it, not our client. That way , we
are always in compliance.
For failure to comply, the minimum fine is $10K, IIRC. I have better
things on which to spend my money than fines.
Your school should have that information easily accessible to everyone
in contact with those materials.
For more information, go here:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/hazardcommunications/index.html
Best,
Wayne Seidl
Clayart SCtag wrote:
> What is the rule for posting MDS sheets and telling students/patrons of a
> ceramics program the information? We do not seem to have these laws here or
> they are being ignored as both the colleges and art centers never bring them
> to the student's attention in my recent experience?
>
>
>
> ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at
> http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
sacredclay on thu 23 aug 07
A company that treats you like that is not a company that you want to
be doing business with.If he's an employee, get in touch with his
boss and explain what happened. If he was the owner, then switch to
another company. Kathryn in NC --- In clayart@yahoogroups.com, Anne
wrote:
>
> Does anyone except me wonder why most ceramics company do not put
labels
> on their products to warn consumers of the dangers of inhaling
dried clay
> dust? Almost every other company in America is required to label all
> potential toxins. It is especially important because it is not
immediately
> apparent that dried clay dust poses a threat to health. I worked
with
> porcelain for two years with absolutely no idea I was risking lung
cancer
> and silicosis.
> I think it's time to insist that ceramics products manufacturers
conform
> to some kind of safety code.
>
> Ceramics manufacturers seem to have their heads in the sand
(literally)
> concerning silica in their products. When I called "China Silk", a
company
> that produces porcelain slip the guy got irate at me even for
asking about
> the health risks involved in handling his product and hung up the
phone.
>
> I appreciate any suggestions.
>
> Thanks, Anne
>
>
______________________________________________________________________
________
> Send postings to clayart@...
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your
subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@...
>
May Luk on thu 23 aug 07
Hello all;
I have gone to many studios, workshops and schools as a learner, a visitor and even as an employee. What is more worrisome is the interpretation of the safety code by different users. A lot of us have been briefed and even quizzed at school about health and safety. When it is put into practise in our own private environment, it all gone pear shape. It would be nice if something like the Health and Safety Executive [UK] coming around to help spot-check individual studios.
Have a good day
May
10018
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
[...] > Does anyone except me wonder why most ceramics company do not put
labels
> on their products to warn consumers of the dangers of inhaling
dried clay
> dust? Almost every other company in America is required to label all
> potential toxins. It is especially important because it is not
immediately
> apparent that dried clay dust poses a threat to health. I worked
with
> porcelain for two years with absolutely no idea I was risking lung
cancer and silicosis. [...]
Anne
om on fri 24 aug 07
On Aug 23, 2007, at 9:04 AM, May Luk wrote:
> What is more worrisome is the interpretation of the safety code by
> different users. A lot of us have been briefed and even quizzed at
> school about health and safety. When it is put into practise in our
> own private environment, it all gone pear shape. It would be nice
> if something like the Health and Safety Executive [UK] coming
> around to help spot-check individual studios.
I don't think it would be nice at all. Anyone who works with clay
and is not aware that clay dust is dangerous has his head in the
sand. .... pun intended ..... The last thing I'd want is some
government official poking around my studio and complaining about
this or that. One should be free to decide on what level of
protection to employ or what risks to take. We don't need the
government spot checking our studios, because after that, someone
will think it a good idea to monitor what we eat, how much sun
exposure we get, how late we stay up, and so on. I'm all for
personal choice.
Odin
anagama blog:
http://www.anagama-west.com/firing_log/
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