| 1 |
MIXING DRY
CLAY |
Highly
hazardous. Inhalation of large amounts of powdered clay, China clay,
asbestos, sand, perlite, grog, and vermiculite can cause
silicosis. |
No
significant hazard, except Asbestos |
No
significant hazard |
Amputation
hazard from clay mixer, back problems from heavy lifting. |
Buy premixed
clay; use local exhaust ventilation, respirator; wet mop/vacuum; wear
special clothes (coveralls); don't use talcs w/asbestos; use machine
guards |
| 2 |
HANDLING WET
CLAY |
Molds,
powders, dust hazard |
|
Drying of
hands |
Wheel work:
Carpel Tunnel Syndrome, back problems, kickwheel can cut. |
Wear gloves
if necessary; use skin cream; rest wrists; use standup wheel/adjust
height; be careful with moving parts; wet mop clay; don't pulverize dry
clay; finish green ware while damp; wear respirator |
| 3 |
GLAZES |
Lead highly
toxic, barium, lithium fluxes highly toxic |
Lead highly
toxic |
|
Lead-safe
doesn't mean lead-free, copper w/lead can cause lead poisoning |
Use
lead-free glazes; if you must use lead glazes, don't make vessels that can
be used for eating or drinking; drill a hole in the pot; if you use lead,
make sure the pottery states so |
| 4 |
Ceramic
Colorants |
Antimony,
barium, cobalt, lead, lithium, manganese, vanadium high |
|
Antimony,
arsenic, chromium, vanadium, nickel moderately toxic |
Arsenic,
beryllium, cadmium, chromium VI, nickel, uranium carcinogenic |
Don't use
known carcinogens; avoid probable carcinogens |
| 5 |
Preparing
Glazes |
Toxic,
Silica highly haz., dust haz. |
Toxic |
Soda ash,
potassium carbonate, feldspars, fluorspar irritating |
|
Use
ventilation; wear respirator; clean up all spills; wear gloves; wet mop
spilled glaze materials |
| 6 |
Applying
Glaze |
Spraying
hazard, solvent-based glazes hazard. |
Glaze
materials hazardous |
Dipping,
pouring, brushing are haz. w/skin irritants |
Solvent-based glazes flammable |
Spray in
spray booth exhausted to outside & explosion proof; wear respirator;
use exhaust fan; use good hygiene; wear gloves; wear special clothes;
collect & combine scrap glazes to use again |
| 7 |
KILN
FIRING |
Chlorine,
fluorine, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone highly toxic |
|
|
Fluorine can
cause bone & teeth problems; kilns cause burns, infrared
radiation |
Lead and
other metal fumes vaporize; carbon monoxide can be produced from kilns;
ventilate kilns directly outside; keep kilns in separate room; wear
infrared goggles or hand-held welding shields (1.7-3.0 shade); avoid
lead |
| 8 |
Electric
Kilns |
Toxic
gases |
|
|
Heat can
cause fires, even 1 ft. away; kiln doesn't shut down by itself |
Use
ventilation; surround kiln w/ fireproof curtains; test commercial canopy
hoods; use direct exhaust system for octagonal kilns; don't store
combustible materials nearby; place kiln away from floor,wall; have 2
shutoffs |
| 9 |
Fuel-Fired
Kilns |
Carbon
Monoxide haz. |
|
|
Heat
generated; natural gas & propane haz.; kiln chimneys not high
enough |
Put carbon
monoxide alarm in area where indoor kilns are; gas lines should be
installed by professionals, and have regulators; shut off gas and power if
gas leak suspected; have bigger canopy hoods; make chimneys high
enough |
| 10 |
Salt
Glazing |
Hydrogen
chloride gas highly toxic |
|
|
Hydrochloric
acid can corrode metal fittings |
Use sodium
carbonate instead of sodium chloride; sodium chloride should only be used
outside, with canopy hood and high chimney; check for corrosion of
metal |
| 11 |
Raku
Firing |
Smoke &
carbon monoxide haz. |
|
|
Gas kiln
hazards; preservatives in wood highly toxic |
Only do Raku
outside, but not near air intakes of buildings or open windows; don't use
materials treated w/preservatives or pesticides |
| 12 |
HAZARDS OF
FINAL PRODUCT |
|
|
|
|
|
| 13 |
Lead |
|
|
|
|
Those that
don't pass leaching test must specify "Not for Food Use-May Poison Food.
For Decorative Purposes Only;" drill hole in pottery; don't use lead
glazes; you can test for lead leaching using home kits |
| 14 |
Other
Leachable Materials |
|
Lead,
barium, cadmium haz. |
|
|
Use only
glazes w/calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium fluxes, and minimize
amounts. of toxic metal colorants; test finished ware for leaching of
toxic metals; be careful w/cadmium and barium |
