Hazard Communication Training For Artists
Robin Izzo, Environmental Health and Safety
OSHA Hazard Communication
Standard
 Covers
all employees who work with
hazardous chemicals
 Purpose
is to reduce injuries and illnesses
related to chemical use
 Princeton
extends this to students
Workers have the Right to Know
 Identity
of chemical substances in the
workplace
 Health
effects of these chemicals
 Physical
 Proper
hazards of these chemicals
precautions for handling and use
Elements of Hazard Communication
 Hazard
Evaluation
 Labeling
of Containers
 Material
Safety Data Sheets
 Written
Hazard Communication Program
 Information
and Training
Hazard Evaluation
Performed by manufacturers, importers or
distributors:
 PHYSICAL HAZARDS
- flammable,
combustible, explosive
 HEALTH HAZARDS - toxic, corrosive,
carcinogen, sensitizer
Labels
Manufacturer Label
 Must
have
 chemical
name
 hazard warnings
 manufacturer name and address
Chemical Users
 Must
ensure containers are labeled and that
labels are not defaced
Labels
Transfers from Original Container
 Must
label new container with
 product
name
 chemical contents
 warnings
 Thinners
- use pre-labeled mason jars
supplied by Visual Arts
Material Safety Data Sheets
 Supplied
by the manufacturer or distributor
 Must
have MSDS for each hazardous
material in Visual Arts
 MSDSs
must be accessible Available in
binders near storage cabinets
Written Hazard Communication
Program
 Visual Arts
developed a written program
detailing how we comply with the Hazard
Communication Standard
 Program is available in the main office any
time
 Based on template produced by EHS
Written Hazard Communication
Program
Program Elements:
 Hazardous
Materials Inventory
 Location and Handling of MSDSs
 Labeling Requirements
 Training Requirements
 Contractor Requirements
 Non-Routine Task Requirements
Training
 General
 Site
training provided by EHS
and chemical-specific training provided
by Visual Arts, with help from EHS.
 As
a teacher or supervisor, you provide this
information to your people
 Additional
training may be required before
performing non-routine tasks
Understanding Chemical Safety
Information
 Material
Safety Data Sheet
 different
formats, but same information
 Important points:
 Health
Effects
 Personal Protective Equipment
 Reactivity
 Physical Properties
Risk = Toxicity X Exposure
The dose makes the poison
Consider
 how
the chemical will be used
 possible routes of exposure
 quantity of the chemical
 personal protective equipment used
 environmental conditions/ventilation
ONE
YEAR
ONE
HOUR
Acute vs. Chronic
Acute
 short-term
exposure
 immediate or slightly delayed health effects
Chronic
long term exposure
 delayed effects

Acute vs. Chronic
Alcohol
Acute Effect
Drunkenness
Chronic Effect
Cirrhosis of
the liver
Exposure Limits
 Permissible
Exposure Limit (PEL)
 Threshold Limit Value (TLV)
 Time Weighted Average (TWA)
Concentration to which the average, healthy person
may be exposed 8 hours per day, 40 hours per
week for a lifetime of work, without serious health
effects.
Based on 8-hour time-weighted average.
Examples of PELs
Paint thinner (VM&P naphtha)
Turpentine
Mineral spirits (in most oil paints)
n-hexane (rubber cement thinner)
Aluminum dust
Silica (crystalline)
300 ppm
100 ppm
100 ppm
50 ppm
3
10 mg/m
3
0.1 mg/m
Routes of Exposure
 Inhalation
 Skin
or Eye Contact
 Ingestion
 Injection
Skin

Protective

Damage surface

React with tissue proteins

Distribute through
bloodstream
Inhalation
 Large
surface area
 Respiratory tract
irritation
 Absorption to
bloodstream
 Particulates,
vapors, fumes,
mists
Ingestion
 Hand
to mouth
contact
 Eating, drinking,
smoking in studio
 Foods stored with
chemicals
Injection
 Cuts
 Sores
 Burns
 Scratches
 Needles
 Broken
Glass
 Pressurized Air
Personal Protective Equipment
 Eye
and Face Protection
 Gloves
 Respirators
 Air-Purifying
 Dust
Mask
Personal Contamination
Skin Exposure
 Rinse
with water for at least 15 minutes
 Remove clothing and jewelry while rinsing
Eye Exposure
 Rinse
with water for at least 15 minutes,
preferably using eye wash. Otherwise, rinse
from nose outward
 Remove contact lenses while rinsing
Personal Contamination
Inhalation
 Move
to fresh air
 Do not enter a contaminated environment
without respiratory protection
Ingestion
 Call
University Health Services or Poison
Control Center for professional advice.
 Do not induce vomiting unless so advised
Personal Contamination
Injection
 Wash
area well
In all cases, seek medical attention at
University Health Services at McCosh or
Princeton Medical Center, if needed.
 Tell
medical staff name of chemical(s)
 Supply MSDS if possible
Report All Incidents
 Near
misses
 Regardless of injury
 Not for assigning blame
 Report to Marjorie Carhart or Kathy
DiMeglio
 EHS may conduct simple accident
investigation
Flashpoints
 Gasoline
-360 F (-380 C)
 Ethyl Alcohol
550 F (130 C)
 Whiskey
850 F (290 C)
 Mineral
1040 F (400 C)
 Olive
Spirits
Oil
4370 F (2250 C)
Storage of Flammable Liquids
 Flammable
Liquid
Storage Cabinets
 10
gallon threshold
 Safety
Cans
Corrosives
 Liquids
 add
acids or bases to water to avoid flash steam
explosion
 store below eye level
 use gloves and
eye protection
Compressed gases
 Chemical
hazards
 Flammable
 Toxic
 Inert
 High
Pressure
- Oxidizer
- Corrosive
Handling Compressed Gases
 Secure
cylinders
 Cylinder caps in place
 Use correct regulator
 Use cylinder carts
 Leaks
 contact
Public Safety
Chemical Spills
 No
spill response team
 Notify Public Safety at 911 if
 spill
is large (more than 1 gallon)
 release to the environment
 Spill
control materials available
 Dispose as hazardous waste
Chemical Spills
 Alert
other workers
 Attend to injured people or fire
 Control sources of ignition
 Put on gloves and eye protection
 Protect floor drains
 Clean up by neutralization or absorption
 Place materials in container/dispose
 Decontaminate area
Chemical Waste - Definition

Ignitable - flammable or oxidizer

Corrosive - pH <2 or >12.5 or corrodes steel

Reactive - reacts violently with air or water, is shock or
heat sensitive (explosive decomposition), releases cyanide
or sulfides at extreme pH

Toxic - heavy metals and certain pesticides (through
TCLP)

Listed Waste - several hundred substances on EPA list

Characteristic - you think it is hazardous based on MSDS
or other information
Hazardous Waste Disposal
 Oily
Rags
 place
in oily rag containers
 do not leave on the floor
 emptied every night
 Paints
 oil-based
and metal-based paints are hazardous
waste
 latex and water-based - regular trash
Waste Disposal
 Oils
 linseed
oil - hazardous waste
 baby oil - regular trash, small amounts to drain
 other oils - USED OIL, not waste oil
collect for recycling
 Solvents
 collect
as hazardous waste
 can combine with paint and linseed oil
Chemical Wastes
 Ceramic
Glaze
 may
be hazardous waste
 contact EHS about unused
 use sink with settling tank
 solids from tank are hazardous waste
 Photographic
 fixers
Chemicals
- collect and pour into silver recovery
unit
 developers and rinses - drain
 others - check with EHS
Waste Disposal
 Acids
and Bases
 Do
not mix with solvents
 Neutralize or collect as hazardous waste
 pH >2 or <12.5 not hazardous waste
 Sharps
 protect
 Empty
 triple
before disposal, using jar or cardboard
Chemical Containers
rinse and recycle
Hazardous Waste Disposal
 Place
waste in a container.
 Original
container is fine.
 Use 5-gallon carboys, if practical.
 Label
the container.
 Keep containers sealed. NO FUNNELS.
 Keep the waste in your studio. Notify
Marjorie Carhart when full.
 Secondary containment near drains.
Labeling
 Place
label on container
when accumulation
begins
 If no label is available,
label as
“HAZARDOUS
WASTE”
 Must include chemical
names
 Unidentified wastes are
illegal!!
Disposal Process
 Pickups
scheduled last Thursday of each
month January-October. One in midDecember
 Waste Paper sent out week before pickup.
 Notify Marge Carhart of any wastes for
disposal.
Important Points
 DO
NOT POUR DOWN DRAIN
 All wastes must be labeled Hazardous
Waste.
 All containers must be closed except during
filling. Do not leave funnels in containers.
 Do not order more than you need.
 Dispose of chemicals promptly. No more
than 55 gallons allowed!
 Minimize and substitute.
Art Hazards
Painting
 Pigments
 “hues”
Thinners
 Linseed Oil

 autoignition

Adhesives
 sensitizers
Oil-based paints
 Turpentine

 sensitizer
- odorless thinner is better alternative
Did Van Gogh
Die for His Art?
Paint Pigments
Antimony
Arsenic
Cadmium
Chromium
Lead
Manganese
Mercury
True Naples Yellow
Cobalt violet
Emerald Green
All cadmium pigments
Resp and GI Irritation
Skin/eye/GI irritation
CNS disorders, Cancer
Lung, kidney, CNS disease
High BP, anemia
Chromium green, strontium Skin, respiratory irritation
yellow, viridian, chrome
Allergies
yellow, zinc yellow
Lung cancer
Flake white, mixed white,
CNS disorder, GI problems
Naples or chrome yellow
Burnt amber, Mn blue, Mn Respiratory irritation
violet, Mars brown
CNS problems
Vermillion
CNS disease
Precautions for Painters
 Know
the what is in your pigments. Use
the least toxic.
 Avoid mixing dry pigments.
 Avoid hand to mouth contact.
 Don’t use your mouth to point your brush.
 Avoid using turpentine - use thinner
 Use least dusty forms of chalk, pastels, etc.
Photography
 Developer
 alkaline
 Stop
Bath
 acetic
acid
 Fixers
 Disposal
problems
 Reducer
 Mix
with concentrated
acid or high heat, can
release cyanide gas
Many photochemicals are
sensitizers
Precautions for Photographers
 Use
liquid chemistry
 Avoid skin exposure
 Cover baths when not
in use.
 Use pre-mixed chemicals
 Rinse with water between acid bleach step
and fixing steps. (sulfur dioxide gas)
 Use good ventilation.
Ceramics
 Silica
- silicosis
 sand,
perlite, grog,
vermiculite
 Mold
- wet clay
 Musculo-skeletal problems
 Glazes - metals
 Skin irritation
 clay,
 Kiln
glazes
- fumes, CO, IR
Precautions for Ceramics
 Use
pre-mixed clay.
 Use good ventilation. Clean daily.
 Moisturize hands.
 Avoid lead glazes
 Use gloves when handling glazes
 Use good ventilation and CO for kiln
 Wear IR goggles when looking into kiln
 Electrical safety and good material handling
Sculpture
 Wood
shop
 Plasters, silica, etc.
 Spray Paint
 Clay
 Paints
 Mold-making
Resins
Precautions for Sculptors
 Use
eye and face protection
 Choose the least hazardous woods and
stones
 Do not use plaster for casting body parts
 Use good lifting techniques
 Protect hands against vibration of hand
tools
 Use machining tools under supervision
Precautions for Sculptors
 Take
breaks to avoid carpal tunnel
syndrome
 Avoid chlorinated waxes
 Protect against electrical hazards
 Wear gloves when applying epoxy glues
and hardeners, formaldehyde glues or
solvent-based adhesives
Questions?
Thank you