Allison Stelter on thu 7 jan 99
i just finished reading the clay times article about studio health &
safety, highlighting school systems. i teach ceramics all day...we sponge
each period & try to stay on top of the scraps by the trimming
wheels....dust does accumulate on the floor & trails out onto the gallery
floor. the floor is mopped each night. we don't have a ventilation
system, but i was recently told that 3
HEPA filters would be added to my room...when, ?... can i be sure that
i'm exposed to respirable silica every day? this is my 3rd year, i'm
27... how long can i expect to live? when it's nice (in seattle) we can
have windows & doors open -- it's quite wonderful _- but it's january &
it'll be a while before we can open up.
____________________________________________________
Allison J. Stelter Hinkelman Sammamish High School
Ceramics Teacher 100 - 140th Avenue SE
Fine Arts Dept Chair Bellevue, WA 98005
voice 425.456.7626
fax 425.456.7722
steltera@belnet.bellevue.k12.wa.us
http://oasis.bellevue.k12.wa.us/sammamish
Alex Wilson on fri 8 jan 99
It is a fact that you will one day expire, but unless you expose yourself to
massive amounts of silica dust during the next twenty years or so, it's
unlikely you or any of us will die from silicosis. I despair for the general
paranoia that hovers around every material used by craftspeople. If you take
reasonable precautions, like making sure you don't blow the dust around with
fans, open windows & doors, vacuuming, sweeping, etc., keep the clay bits on
the floor and mop them up at the end of the session.
Forgive the ranting; I'm just annoyed that I can't use lead bisilicate anymore
on my slipware because of 'safety' scares.
Slainte,
Alex," I love the smell of a damp workshop in the morning" Wilson
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