Appendix B-2A
Control Measures – Theater Safety
Many art materials are inherently hazardous, including toxic solvents and many metals,
corrosive acids and alkalis, flammable solvents and combustible materials such as
wood dust, and so forth. However, artists not only have to be concerned about the
hazardous properties of their art materials, but also have to be concerned about
hazardous chemical reactions that can occur. These hazardous reactions can occur in
two basic ways: first, many art processes result in the production of toxic chemicals or
other hazards as by-products of the process; and, second, many art materials are
incompatible with other chemicals and can create toxic chemicals if they are
accidentally mixed. In addition, some art materials are incompatible with heat,
ultraviolet radiation, and other physical processes. These decomposition products and
incompatibilities should be listed in the Reactivity section of Material Safety Data
Sheets.
Potentially Hazardous Art Processes
Many art processes such as acid etching, acid pickling, kiln firing, photographic
developing, patina application, etc. involve chemical reactions to produce the desired
effect. However, these chemical reactions often produce other chemicals which are
hazardous. For example, nitric acid etching on zinc plates involves a chemical reaction
in which the zinc metal is converted into soluble zinc ions, thus creating etched lines or
areas in the parts of the plate that are not covered with acid-resistant grounds or
resists. This same chemical reaction, however, also converts the nitric acid into
nitrogen oxide gases, including nitrogen dioxide which can cause chemical pneumonia
and emphysema. Flammable hydrogen gas is also produced. Thus there is the need
for local exhaust ventilation to remove these unwanted gases.
Many art processes also create physical hazards such as noise, vibration, ultraviolet
and infrared radiation. In particular, glassblowing, metal melting, pottery and enameling
kiln firing all produce infrared radiation and heat. Arc welding, carbon arcs and neon
sculptures produce ultraviolet radiation.
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1. Substitution
Substituting safe materials for more hazardous ones is the most effective precaution.
General rules include:
a. Always choose water based or latex paints and other products over solvent
containing ones whenever possible
b. If solvents must be used, Material Safety Data Sheets can be used to choose
the least toxic ones.
c. Choose products that do not create dusts and mists. Avoid materials in powder
form or aerosol products.
d. Avoid products containing cancer causing chemicals whenever possible.
2. Personal Hygiene
Practicing good hygiene in the studio is one of the simplest and least practiced ways to
avoid exposure to toxic substances.
a. Never eat, drink or smoke in studios and other environments where there are
toxic materials. Dust settles in coffee cups, vapors can be absorbed by
sandwiches, and hands can transfer substances to food and cigarettes. Cigarette
smoking is especially hazardous because some substances inhaled through a
cigarette can be converted by the heat to more hazardous forms.
b. Keep eating and living areas separate from working areas.
c. Wash your hands thoroughly after work, before eating, using the bathroom and
applying make-up.
d. Wear special work clothes and remove them after work. If possible leave them
in the workshop and wash them frequently and separately from other clothing.
e. Never use toluene, turpentine, kerosene, or other solvents to remove paints,
inks, or stains on your hands. If soap and water is inadequate, use baby oil or a
waterless cleaner. Follow with soap and water and a lotion to prevent drying.
f. Before leaving studio, wash under you fingernails. Keep a nailbrush near your
studio sink. Keep nails trim and clean; do not bite or pick nails.
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g. Never hold brushes or tools in your teeth or mouth
h. To prevent mechanical accidents, recognize your physical, emotional and
mental limits. Eat and sleep appropriately. Decreased alertness, often due to
hunger or fatigue is a major cause of accidents.
i. Get an annual medical checkup with a physician trained to recognize work
related health problems.
3. Keep studio clean and organized
Continuous, diligent monitoring and cleaning of the studio reduces the risk of accident
and fire. Maximize hazard free space in the studio by designating a minimal area where
potentially hazardous materials are used.
a. Do not use cleaning methods which raise dust. Wet mop floors followed by
vacuuming, and sponge surfaces.
b. Have available the types of face, eye protection, gloves, wash-up facilities, and
first aid equipment needed to clean up hazardous spills.
c. Clean up small liquid spills immediately. Wear protective clothing, especially
gloves and a mask, when cleaning up toxic spills. If in an emergency, rags,
sawdust or paper is used to mop up flammable spills, place soaked materials in a
sealed fireproof container. Preferred cleaning materials include activated
charcoal, diatomaceous earth, or cat litter (free of deodorizing chemicals). Once
liquid has been absorbed by these nonflammable materials, dispose of them in a
heavy-duty trash bag.
d. Keep the studio clean and free of hazards such as objects, debris, or wet,
slippery floors. Trying to work on litter strewn tables reduces the effective control
over tools and equipment, leading to careless actions. The most common
circumstance to accidents is carelessness.
e. Properly stored tools remain in good condition longer. Maintain all equipment
and tools in good working order.
f. Keep extension cords and hoses off the floor by coiling them onto a hook when
not in use.
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4. Ventilation
Effective ventilation is essential to making art safely.
Ventilation is the primary environmental issue that affects artists who work with
hazardous materials.
Poor ventilation means that toxic materials in the form of dusts, fumes, gases, mists, or
vapors can be inhaled. Agents can be absorbed in nose and mouth, some get to the
lungs, and a few are absorbed into the circulatory system. Additionally, the
accumulation of vapors from flammable liquids can create a potentially explosive
situation.
Appropriate ventilation provides protection for artists so that many art materials can be
used without threat.
A common recommendation on product labels is USE ONLY WITH ADEQUATE
VENTILATION. Such a nonspecific phrase is of little help.
A blowing rather than exhausting fan in the studio may reintroduce toxic chemicals into
one's personal intake area instead of carrying them away. Taking work outdoors to be
sprayed or blowing vapors out a window with a strategically place fan may not be
sufficient. Airflow varies with wind, temperature and air pressure. In many instances,
ceiling mounted down-draft or reversible fans do more to stir dusts, fumes and vapors
into personal intake areas than to provide effective ventilation.
Some artists mistakenly believe that airborne substances they encounter are heavier
than air, and are therefore found closer to the floor. However, floor fans can bring
substantial quantities of undesirable substances to one's personal intake environment.
To improve ventilation significantly, floor fans must effectively dilute or remove
contaminated air from the workplace.
POTENTIAL HAZARDS OF STORAGE OF ART SUPPLIES
1. Clearly mark bottles, boxes, and storage containers as to their contents, hazards, and
date received and opened.
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2. Use marked, unbreakable containers whenever possible. Do not use food product
containers. This prevents accidental ingestion of chemicals that do not have warning
odors.
3. Keep all original or unbreakable containers tightly closed except when using them in
order to prevent escape of dust or vapors.
4. Keep a current inventory of all materials on hand, their locations and date of
purchase in order to dispose of materials with limited shelf life. Some chemicals even
become explosive with age. Ideally, store materials in amounts that will be used within
two months.
5. Purchase flammable or combustible materials in small quantities. Although larger
containers might be cheaper, large quantities of these materials can be a serious fire
hazard.
6. Post locations of flammable or highly toxic materials.
7. Apply good housekeeping. Have cleaning supplies for handling of spills on hand. If
respiratory protection, gloves, or other personal protective equipment are needed, have
these in the studios at all times.
8. If chemical corrosives or chemicals are stored, be prepared with an eye was station
or emergency shower.
9. Have fire protection or extinguishers available which are approved for fires caused by
the type of chemical stored.
10. Never store any material which you are not prepared to control or clean up if it spills.
11. Make safe storage and disposal an ongoing part of your work, with seasonal
cleanings and reevaluations.
12. Organize storage wisely. Do not store large containers on high shelves. Never store
hazardous chemicals directly on the floor or above shoulder height.
13. Store flammable or combustible solvents in fire safety cans. For dispensing small
amounts of solvents, store the solvents in spring loaded dispensers.
14. Store chemicals that are highly toxic if ingested (for example, mercuric chloride and
sodium cyanide) in a locked cabinet. Store flammable and combustible materials (such
as acetone, petroleum distillates, turpentine, and other solvents) in specially designed
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OSHA-approved fireproof cabinets. Keep the cabinets closed; vent if required by local
regulations. Explosion-proof refrigerators also decrease the risk of fire or explosion.
15. Store reactive chemicals separately and separate materials that may react if
inadvertently mixed. For example, bleach mixed with acid or ammonia may create
highly toxic potentially lethal gasses.
16. Do not dispense or mix chemicals in or near the storage area.
17. Ventilate the storage room. Keep it cool and keep chemicals out of direct sunlight.
18. Know your local regulations. Some areas limit the amount of hazardous materials
(especially flammable solvents) that may be stored.
FIRE SAFETY IN THE ARTS
1. Do not smoke or permit smoking in any studio containing flammable or combustible
liquids. Flammable vapors can travel considerable distances, resulting in fire hazards in
other parts of the studio.
2. Keep all sources of ignition away from flammable liquids. This includes flames,
sparks, static electricity, hot metal surfaces and electric element.
3. When pouring flammable liquids from large metal drums into metal containers,
connect the two metal containers together with wire to bond them. This prevents the
build-up of static electricity, which can ignite the flammable liquids. The metal drum
should also be grounded with a ground wire leading to a ground such as a tap or a
radiator.
4. Store flammable or combustible solvents in safety cans. For dispensing small
amounts of solvents, store the solvents in spring loaded dispensers.
5. Make sure all electrical equipment is in good repair and adequately grounded. All
wiring and equipment should meet standards of the National Fire Protection
Association’s (NFPA) electrical code.
6. Fans in local exhaust ventilation systems should have non sparking or nonferrous
blades, and the motor and controls should be outside the path of the vapors or be
explosion proof.
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7. Do not use gas fired space heaters unless the heater is approved for use in the
presence of flammable materials.
8. Waste flammable or combustible liquids should be stored in approved solvent
disposal cans, while awaiting proper disposal.
9. Solvent soaked rags and paper should be stored in self closing oily waste cans or
other closed metal containers. These should be emptied daily.
10. Do not store flammable or combustible liquids near escape routes from studios.
11. Keep a dry chemical or carbon dioxide fire extinguisher on hand for emergency use.
12. Clean up spills of flammable liquids immediately.
DISPOSAL OF ART MATERIALS
Purchase in as small a quantity as possible. Although larger containers might be
cheaper on a per volume basis, having large quantities of toxic and flammable materials
around is more of a hazard, and disposable of leftover amounts is a problem. Also, if an
art material in powdered form comes in a paper bag or sack, store the opened bag in a
metal or plastic container with a lid. You can also empty the bag into the container.
Store rags in a metal fire-proof container and empty regularly (daily if possible). Hang
oily rags in a well ventilated area (outside). Another alternative is to place them in a pail
of water. When dry dispose of in regular daily/weekly garbage pick-up.
Organic solvents, such as turpentine and mineral spirits, should not be poured down the
drain because they kill bacteria that break down other waste products. Some solvents
can be recycled, which greatly reduces the amount to be disposed:
1) Slowly pour used or dirty solvents through fine steel mesh, or a coffee filter, inserted
in a metal funnel and into a receiving can.
2) Cap and clearly label the container as to what it contains and the beginning date as
to when it was retrieved.
3) For small quantities, such as less than a liter, let solvents evaporate. Prevent
inhalation by placing evaporating solvents under a fume hood or outdoors where the
material is secure.
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4) Package the dirty solvents and chemicals in the filter in a sealed container, and
contact the SMCCCD Senior Buyer to arrange for hazardous waste disposal.
5) Solvent soaked rags and papers should be put in a metal container. At the end of the
day, hang them in a safe place outdoors to allow evaporation. Discard them in a sealed,
flame-proof container. Do not use plastic containers because many solvents will
dissolve them.
If you are uncertain about what you can throw in the garbage, the best solution is to
contact the SMCCCD Senior Buyer to arrange for disposal as hazardous waste.
Methods of Waste Disposal:
There are a variety of methods of disposing of waste materials, including recycling,
treatment, pouring it down the drain, evaporation, disposal as non-hazardous waste,
and disposal as hazardous waste at a regulated landfill. Some of these options do not
apply to the most hazardous waste.
Sewage System: Concentrations of copper and zinc ions, although not classified as
hazardous waste, are controlled by sewer codes. Solvents should never be poured
down the sink.
Landfill: Non hazardous solid waste materials can be placed in the regular trash for
carting to a normal landfill. Some toxic materials can also be placed in the trash,
including clay, metals, and paint residues. Glazed pottery can also be placed in the
trash if it does not leach toxic metals.
Hazardous Waste Disposal:
Use the Hazardous Waste Pickup Request Form available on the intranet to notify the
SMCCCD Senior Buyer that you have hazardous waste to be picked up during the next
semester break hazardous waste pickup cycle.
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Recommendations for Disposal of Art Materials:
Aerosol Spray Cans - Make sure they are completely empty by spraying, and if they are
aluminum, place in recycle bin. Otherwise, place in garbage.
Clay, minerals - Place in garbage.
Glaze Chemicals - Arrange for disposal as hazardous waste.
Liquid Glazes - If the glazes contain toxic, leachable metals, arrange for hazardous
waste collection; otherwise place in regular garbage.
Dyes, Powders - Place in garbage
Glues and Cements Water based - Allow to dry, then place in garbage
Solvent based - Allow to evaporate in safe place, then place in garbage.
Metals and Compounds
Metals, alloys - Recycle or place in garbage
Compounds - Recycle or use hazardous waste collection for toxic materials;
garbage for others.
Paints, Varnishes, Stains
Water based coatings - Recycle or allow to dry, then place in garbage; for toxic
pigments, use hazardous waste collection.
Solvent based - Collect for disposal as hazardous waste.
If less than one pint, allow to evaporate in safe place, then place in garbage; for
toxic pigments, use hazardous waste collection. If more than 1 pint, use hazardous
waste collection.
Pesticides - Hazardous waste collection. Containers, once completely empty, should be
triple- rinsed and placed in garbage; rinse water can be used as pesticide.
Photochemical Concentrates - Recycle or use hazardous waste collection
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Plastics resins - Recycle or use hazardous waste collection for large amounts. Smaller
amounts can be reacted to form solid plastic.
Solvents
Liquid only - Less than 1 pint; evaporate in safe place, if more than 1 pint;
recycle or use hazardous waste collection. Chlorinated solvents (or
mixtures containing them) should be collected separately from other
solvents.
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