Steve Mills on sun 6 jan 02
Here in the UK, ALL manufacturers of ceramic materials, glazes, colours,
etc. MUST be able to provide the customer with a Safety Data Sheet on
EVERY product, on request. This is my job for Bath Potters Supplies! I
also produce all labels for Toxic Materials.
Officially each SDS has to follow a set 16 point format.
These are:
1. Identification of the preparation/Supplier reference
2. Composition
3. Health Hazard Identification
4. First Aid Measures
5. Fire Fighting Measures
6. Accidental Release Measures
7. Handling & Storage
8. Exposure Control/Personal protective Equipment
9. Physical & Chemical properties
10. Stability & Reactivity
11. Toxicology Information
12. Ecological information
13. Disposal
14. Transport Information
15. Regulatory information
16. Other information
Some of our suppliers are occasionally lax with these and occasionally
not very honest and some materials are classed as *Harmful* when they
should be classed as *Toxic*.
Currently we are upgrading Vanadium Pentoxide from *Harmful* to *Toxic*
as the Occupational Exposure Standard is at 10mg/Kg. [Quote: or repeated exposure above Occupational Exposure Standards may affect
the nervous system, liver, kidney, lungs> Unquote]. Here it will join
such things as Cobalt Oxide and Carbonate. All Lead compounds, Cadmium
Selenium based colours etc.
The current OES for Barium Carbonate is set at 630mg/Kg, so you would
have to ingest a larger amount before it affects [according to current
information] your Lungs and Kidneys, the nervous system and liver are
not currently mentioned. HOWEVER we feel that as a material it offers
enough danger to warrant re-classification and consequently it carries a
*Toxic* label on our packaging, and we are re-writing the appropriate
SDS.
For myself I would request a comprehensive data sheet from the glaze
maker!
Steve
Bath
UK
In message , Earl Brunner writes
>We were having a guild board meeting the other day and one of the
>officers brought in a couple of pieces that she had used commercial
>glazes on. I think they were cone 6 glazes. One looked exactly like a
>copper blue glaze. Since most copper blue glazes that I know of use
>barium carbonate, I questioned the safety of the glaze. She blew it off
>with the statement that since the commercial glaze company said that it
>was safe it must be. I think that she is assuming a lot. Or am I being
>unnecessarily cautious? Since this lady teaches High School Ceramics
>I'm a little concerned. Any comments? I know that without knowing the
>glaze or the company that any discussion has to be limited. What are
>the liability issues with using commercial glazes? Do we just assume
>that if they say it is safe that it is?
>
>Earl Brunner
>mailto:bruec@anv.net
>http://coyote.accessnv.com/bruec
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
John Hesselberth on sun 6 jan 02
on 1/6/02 8:25 AM, Steve Mills at stevemills@MUDSLINGER.DEMON.CO.UK wrote:
> For myself I would request a comprehensive data sheet from the glaze
> maker!
Hi Steve,
We have a similar requirement in the US. The documents are called MSDS
(Material Safety Data Sheets). Unfortunately they really only apply to the
material as handled by the potter. They say nothing as to how durable or
stable the glaze is and whether or not it will come apart in use. They are
certainly helpful documents, but they are not complete.
John
web sites: http://www.masteringglazes.com and http://www.frogpondpottery.com
EMail: john@frogpondpottery.com
"Pots, like other forms of art, are human expressions: pleasure, pain or
indifference before them depends upon their natures, and their natures are
inevitably projections of the minds of their creators." Bernard Leach, A
Potter's Book.
Steve Mills on mon 7 jan 02
That's the problem; the MSDS that I have to write on our own glazes must
carry ALL the appropriate risk phrases for ALL the materials used, BUT
we cannot comment on the safety of the FIRED glaze as that is totally
out of our control and depends completely on how the user fires it.
Steve
Bath
UK
In message , John Hesselberth writes
>
>Hi Steve,
>
>We have a similar requirement in the US. The documents are called MSDS
>(Material Safety Data Sheets). Unfortunately they really only apply to t=
>he
>material as handled by the potter. They say nothing as to how durable or
>stable the glaze is and whether or not it will come apart in use. They ar=
>e
>certainly helpful documents, but they are not complete.
>
>John
>
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
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