Monona Rossol on sat 28 nov 98
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 26 Nov 1998 10:44:39 EST
From: Curtis Junor
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Subject: Re: classroom clean-up request(2nd time)
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
SNIP----
It might be easier to show then a NIOSH/Centers for Disease Control study of
a pottery in the Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa. The study
showed no over exposure to lead although a couple air samples were
borderline. And the reason that silica was not a problem was the following:
"Good housekeeping practices have been established to reduce classroom dust
from dry clays... Students in each class were required to clean their work
area, including tables and chairs, using wet mops and cloths before leaving.
All clay scraps were removed and stored in a reclaim area. During the lunch
break a janitorial service also cleans the room. Student and faculty work
practices, including only working with moist clay and using pre-mixed clay
and glazes, are effective measures to control dust. Students were instructed
to moisten the potters wheel prior to use to reduce dust from dried clays.
In the glaze room ... students reclaim...[clay with a pug mill] using only
moistened clay. Water-based, lead-free glazed are applied using an aerosol
spray in the glaze hoods."
So you see, it can be done. And the key is that students can't be allowed
to make or leave messes in the first place. Cleaning at the end of the day
and at lunch should be done to prevent any build up of fine dusts that
escape the student's mops. And dry clay mixing--even during reclaiming--just
shouldn't be allowed--not without about a $50,000 specially designed exhaust
ventilation system.
If you don't create hardly any dust, you don't need to outfit janitors with
respiratory protection. They can either wet mop or HEPA vac the small amount
of dust.
A full fledged respiratory protection program for the janitors would be
prohibitively expensive for the school. Remember, each janitor would have
to have medical tests, fit testing by a professional, special training,
etc. And the school would have to have a written program and program
administrator.
Its good for the student's karma anyway to work neat and clean up.
> #1- Floors=regularity of sweeping and wet mopping, are
> sweeping compounds used?, how often dust mop heads changed?, do you use a
> vacuum? type/,how often?,are your floors concrete?, does the custodian uses
> a respirator?.
Floors must be sealed or tiled so that wet mopping will be effective.
Sweeping compounds must not be used because 1) they don't keep down
"respirable sized dusts" and 2) they are slightly oily which may make the
floor more slippery when wet. Mop head must be washed well enough to get
most of the silica out--then they can be used as long as they are in good
condition. If a vacuum is used it must be HEPA.
> #2-air circulation= do you have exhaust vents?, are they running
> when classes are in session?, Fans and air conditions, are they used?, do
> you have a air purification system? does it work well ?, brand?, cost?,
> doors and windows, open or closed during class time?.
This question is not going to be easily answered by people. Most of the
schools I survey think "air conditioning" is ventilation. And they don't
know whether their "air purifiers" work or not. Usually, they do not.
Monona Rossol
Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety
181 Thompson St., # 23
New York NY 10012-2586 212/777-0062
http://www.caseweb.com/acts/
Joanne Van Bezooyen on sun 29 nov 98
Why not just make a list of everything that needs to be cleaned up
everyday....then assign each person a clean-up job. You can rotate people to a
different job each day. Make a chart, hang on the wall, you'll know who's doing
their job or not and it is very specific. I've done this with childrens' classe
and it works wonderfully.
Joanne
Monona Rossol wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Thu, 26 Nov 1998 10:44:39 EST
> From: Curtis Junor
> To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
> Subject: Re: classroom clean-up request(2nd time)
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> SNIP----
>
> It might be easier to show then a NIOSH/Centers for Disease Control study of
> a pottery in the Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa. The study
> showed no over exposure to lead although a couple air samples were
> borderline. And the reason that silica was not a problem was the following:
>
> "Good housekeeping practices have been established to reduce classroom dust
> from dry clays... Students in each class were required to clean their work
> area, including tables and chairs, using wet mops and cloths before leaving.
> All clay scraps were removed and stored in a reclaim area. During the lunch
> break a janitorial service also cleans the room. Student and faculty work
> practices, including only working with moist clay and using pre-mixed clay
> and glazes, are effective measures to control dust. Students were instructed
> to moisten the potters wheel prior to use to reduce dust from dried clays.
> In the glaze room ... students reclaim...[clay with a pug mill] using only
> moistened clay. Water-based, lead-free glazed are applied using an aerosol
> spray in the glaze hoods."
>
> So you see, it can be done. And the key is that students can't be allowed
> to make or leave messes in the first place. Cleaning at the end of the day
> and at lunch should be done to prevent any build up of fine dusts that
> escape the student's mops. And dry clay mixing--even during reclaiming--just
> shouldn't be allowed--not without about a $50,000 specially designed exhaust
> ventilation system.
>
> If you don't create hardly any dust, you don't need to outfit janitors with
> respiratory protection. They can either wet mop or HEPA vac the small amount
> of dust.
>
> A full fledged respiratory protection program for the janitors would be
> prohibitively expensive for the school. Remember, each janitor would have
> to have medical tests, fit testing by a professional, special training,
> etc. And the school would have to have a written program and program
> administrator.
>
> Its good for the student's karma anyway to work neat and clean up.
>
> > #1- Floors=regularity of sweeping and wet mopping, are
> > sweeping compounds used?, how often dust mop heads changed?, do you use a
> > vacuum? type/,how often?,are your floors concrete?, does the custodian uses
> > a respirator?.
>
> Floors must be sealed or tiled so that wet mopping will be effective.
> Sweeping compounds must not be used because 1) they don't keep down
> "respirable sized dusts" and 2) they are slightly oily which may make the
> floor more slippery when wet. Mop head must be washed well enough to get
> most of the silica out--then they can be used as long as they are in good
> condition. If a vacuum is used it must be HEPA.
>
> > #2-air circulation= do you have exhaust vents?, are they running
> > when classes are in session?, Fans and air conditions, are they used?, do
> > you have a air purification system? does it work well ?, brand?, cost?,
> > doors and windows, open or closed during class time?.
>
> This question is not going to be easily answered by people. Most of the
> schools I survey think "air conditioning" is ventilation. And they don't
> know whether their "air purifiers" work or not. Usually, they do not.
>
> Monona Rossol
> Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety
> 181 Thompson St., # 23
> New York NY 10012-2586 212/777-0062
>
> http://www.caseweb.com/acts/
| |
|
