Louis Katz on tue 2 dec 97
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Getting MSDS sheets from larger suppliers is easy. Some smaller
suppliers still have not gotten thier act together. If you are a large
governmental agency, putting =22MSDS required on all materials before
payment is made=22 on all purchase orders or bids will make your
position clear.
It might be better to give your supplier a reasonable deadline,such
as,=22 We need MSDS sheets on all of our materials before the end of
the next semester. This will give them time to conact their suppliers
and make xeroxes etc.
Proper labeling is hard to comply with. Everytime a material changes
containers the new container requires the same information as the old.
Some places use xeroxes of MSDS's as labeling information. In our
studio class glazes all have labels printed with Hyperglaze=A8 . If
you put safety information into your materials files the information
comes out on the labels.
ALL of my intermediate and advance students know some safety
information about all of the common materials used in our studio. We
have the materials broken into four classes.
1. General Use. These are materials that require normal respiratory
protection and protection of your eyes.
2. Safety Limited Use. These are materials that we do use in class
glazes, but require permission from the instructor before each use as
a dry powder. This allows me to inform the student each time which
extra precaustions they should take and how they should label their
glaze test or bucket of glaze.
3. Cost limited Use. These are materials that cost enough for me to
want to keep control over them. There are few ingredients in this list
as most expensive materials are already in the Safety Limited
catagory.
4. Restricted Use. These are materials that are not used in class
glazes for environmental or safety reasons. I allow their use in glaze
tests with permission.
All glazes for class use are labeled either =22O.K. as a liner=22 or =22 not
for use as a liner=22.
Louis
Below is my class handout and notes for my materials safety lecture, I
have also included one of the tests I give tom my students two classes
after the lecture. We study inbetween and I assure them that the
information is not hard to learn. I am not a safety expert and cannot
be responsible for how others might use these notes.
The list of materials is organized in a manner to help them remember
them. Colorants are listed together, materials related to limestone
are listed together, etc. My comments on these are in brackets, but I
don't include them in my notes that I pass out, I make them write them
down.
1.There are hazardous materials in the studio. Misuse may result in
death or injury. Misuse may also cause you to be prevented from using
the facility in the future.
1b. In this lecture we will only deal with toxic material hazards.
Physical hazards such as might cause back injuries, or hazards to the
eyes are not part of this lecture.
1c. ALL advanced and intermediate students must pass the hazardous
materials test in order to attend class after the 8th class meeting.
1d. Some materials may be hazardous for use in food vessels. Only
glazes marked =22O.K. as a liner=22 may be used on interiors of vessels or
on the food surface of plates. Even when these glazes are used the
surface of the fired glaze should be inspected for pinholes that may
trap food and harbor bacteria. No pottery made at TAMUCC should be
considered safe for use in an oven or microwave.
2a. Modes of entry.
Inhalation
Ingestion
Absorption
2b. Physical forms.
Dusts. Finely divided solid materials.
Mists. Finely divided solid materials or dissolved materials mixed
with water (or another liquid) and sprayed into the air.
Vapors. substances that are gaseous, or that have evaporated. Steam is
water vapor.
Fumes. A substance that has condensed (turned back into a solid or
liquid) after having been a vapor. Sometimes this process also
includes oxidation of the vapor.
Inhalation
Dusts prevention. if a process can be done wet, don't do it dry.
Lower powders gently. Avoid sanding clay or glaze. Mop don't sweep.
Mists. Use a spray booth, and respirator. Do not spray soluble
materials unless the hazards are minimal AND you are well protected.
Spraying of glazes requires permission each time. Some materials may
not be sprayed.
Vapors. Vent kilns. Use solvents outside or in an exhaust hood and use
an appropriate respirator. No solvents (other than water) in the
ceramics lab. Use hot wax pans outside.
Fumes. Vent kilns. Use appropriate ventilation and safety equipment
when cutting, welding, and grinding metal. Use wax pans outside.
Ingestion. Don't eat drink or smoke when handling glaze materials or
clay materials that are hazardous to ingest. ALWAYS use soap and the
nail brush after handling glaze materials. Use rubber gloves when
using materials that are hazardous to touch or hazardous when ingested
in very small quantities.
General Guidelines to minimize exposure.
1. Change from studio clothes when done with studio work.
2. Keep food and drink from the glaze area
3. Clean up messes as soon as possible.
4. Avoid making dust
5. Wear a respirator when there is the possibility of exposure.
6. Use glazes that have the least hazardous materials.
In our studio materials are categorized in the following categories:
1. GENERAL USE. Use a respirator for dry materials. Wash from skin
after exposure. Wet Cleanup avoid making dust. Use of these materials
after passing the materials safety test does not require specific
permission in test quantities (under 300 grams).
2. SAFETY LIMITED USE. Use of these materials is limited because of
safety concerns or environmental concerns. All containers with these
materials in them must be clearly labeled with their contents.
Labeling must include special handling restrictions such as =22gloves=22
or =22not for food surfaces=22 Permission must be obtained each time
these dry materials are used. Class containers of glazes containing
these materials may be used without special permission so long as the
special handling restrictions are followed.
3. COST LIMITED USE. Because of the expense of these materials their
use is limited. Permission must be obtained each time these materials
are used.
4. RESTRICTED USE. These materials, because of safety and
environmental concerns, may not be used in the ceramics studio except
in test quantities. Permission must be obtained each time these
materials are used. All containers with these materials in them must
be clearly labeled with their contents.
Materials in italics are not present in the studio
RESTRICTED USE CHEMICALS
All compounds of Barium(old rat poison), Lead, Antimony=7Blead
antimonate/naples yellow=7D, Arsenic, Beryllium, Cadmium (except
commercial Cadmium inclusion pigments),. Fluorine (Fluorspar,
Cryolite)=7Bflouride, the communist plot, hydorflouric acid=7D. All water
soluble pigments.
SAFETY LIMITED USE
All compounds of Chrome(green), Manganese(purple), Cobalt(blue),
Nickel, Copper(turquoise), Mason Stains and other stains, Lithium
Carbonate(lithium pills for bipolar disorders), Vanadium
compounds(yellow), Wollastonite. Borax, Soda Ash, Boric Acid,(borax in
the laundry with washing soda, Boric acid as Roach Proof)
Plaster
COST LIMITED USE
Tin oxide, Albany Slip
GENERAL USE
All Clays(except Albany Slip),Plastic Vitrox Clay (PVC),
all Feldspars, Cornwall Stone, Nepheline Syenite, and all frits,
Iron Oxides (includes ochres and umbers), (I point out that iron is
poisonous)
Whiting, Dolomite, Magnesium Carbonate,(these three from limestone)
talc,(soapstone)
Titanium Compounds (rutile, ilmenite),
zinc oxide(zinc oxide cream for sun protection), cerium oxide, alumina
hydrate, Zircopax and Ultrox
TEST
MATERIALS HAZARDS OF THE CERAMICS STUDIO
TERMINOLOGY AND MATERIALS CLASSIFICATION TEST
Name=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=
=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5FDate
Which category do we classify each of the following materials in:
(circle the correct letter)
1. Barium Compounds. 1. Restricted 2. Safety Limited 3. General
2. Lead Compounds 1. Restricted 2. Safety Limited 3. General
3. Clays 1. Restricted 2. Safety Limited 3. General
4. Chrome compounds 1. Restricted 2. Safety Limited 3. General
5. Feldspars 1. Restricted 2. Safety Limited 3. General
6. fluorspar 1. Restricted 2. Safety Limited 3. General
7. Iron Oxide 1. Restricted 2. Safety Limited 3. General
8. manganese coumpounds 1. Restricted 2. Safety Limited 3. General
9. Magnesium Carbonate 1. Restricted 2. Safety Limited 3. General
10. Titanium minerals 1. Restricted 2. Safety Limited 3. General
11. Wet cleanup techniques prevent a) Absorption b) Inhalation c)
Ingestion
12. All materials in clay bodies are 1. Restricted 2. Safety Limited
3. General Use
13. Clay, mixed with water and sprayed into the air is a
1. Dust 2. Mist 3. Fume 4. Vapor
14. Kilns must be vented to remove 1. Dusts and mists 2. Fumes and
Vapors
15. Hot Wax pans may only be used inside. 1. True 2. False
16. Borax is General Use 1. True 2. False
17. Boric Acid is Safety Limited 1. True 2. False
18. It is O.K. to bring glazes into the ceramics studio from other
schools without asking. 1. True 2. False
19. A glaze bucket saying: O.K. as liner contains a glaze that can be
used on the interior of a food container. 1. True 2. False
20. Safety limited use materials are never used in glazes in the
ceramics studio.
1. True 2. False
I am certain that the system above could be better. It is much better
htan the lack of information that was in place before. Although this
system seems to work well here, I am sure it is unsuitable for other
situations.
Louis
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