Specific Safety Hazards

1. Specific Safety Hazards Ana Fremaint and Naomi Elting

2. Floors • Keep dry and non-slippery • Spills? Clean them! Clean them now! • Cracks? Loose tile? Frayed carpeting? • If floors are particularly slippery, report it • Working with wood? Clean up after yourself! • Avoid sweeping

3. Plumbing • Emergency washing facilities are a must when working with hazardous material! • No eyewash stations? Portable 5 gallons of water can work! • Water temperature at sink. Sporadic temperature differences must be looked at

4. Lighting • Heavy duty tools such as a jig saw require direct lighting • Well lighted- poor lighting is a hazard

5. Room Size • Activities should match up with space provided • No activities that crowd up a space! • If room cannot be adjusted, curriculum needs to be adjusted • Space between work tables • Arrangement allows for an easy exit in case of emergencies

6. Storage • Storage space prevents cluttering and allows for easy movement • Constant re-shuffling and crowded areas can cause accidents • If you are a “Magpie”, all the more reason to organize your materials!

7. Noise • Restrict usage of power tools, or require ear protection when working with something that makes a lot of noise • Earplugs, headphones

8. ARTROOM ORDER • Do NOT believe in “creative chaos”. • Keep track of all materials and tools being used • Adequate ventilation • If it’s not being used- stash it away! • A well maintained art room is a room that encourages art production • Demonstrate proper care of materials and equipment

9. Working with tools • Clear instruction must be given when the equipment is first used. • Helping the students develop the right habits for using tools is an important part of the art teachers job. • Do not assume that students know how to correctly use tools before instruction is given. • Always use the proper tool for the job, incorrect use of tools will damage the tools and make them unreliable and unsafe to use.

10. Cutting • Scissors • Paper cutters • Saws • Knives • Wood and linoleum cutters • Metal snips • Wire cutters • Keep cutting tools sharp. Dull or chipped blades slip easily and cause painful cuts. • Always supervise students using a paper cutter. • Set up a system for distributing tools that minimizes handling. In other words: Don’t have all 30 students walking around with scissors at the same time.

11. Piercing • Punches • Awls • Drills • Scissors • Compasses • Puncture wounds to hands, fingers, legs, or eyes are not uncommon, so carefully supervise during piercing activities.

12. Pounding • Hammer • Wood mallets • Rubber mallets • Be aware that hammers come in different weights and make sure that hammers are not too heavy for the student.

13. Squeezing and pinching • Pliers • Vices • Printing presses • Fingers could easily be pinched with these tools, but clear instruction can prevent that. I like to pinch!

14. Heating and melting • Hotplates • Irons • Torches • Be aware of the flash point temperature of wax, use candy thermometers to prevent fires. • Never extinguish a wax fire with water. Instead, cover the container and remove it from the heat source. • Any butane, propane, or other gas tanks for torches should be chained to prevent them from falling over and leaking. • Burns are among the most painful and disfiguring injuries. It is important to prevent them and to know how to treat them.

15. Power tools • Electric drills • Drill presses • Band saws • Saber saw • Sanders • Designate specific areas for power tools to be used. • Carefully instruct and supervise while tools are in use. • Students should wear safety glasses and tie back long hair. • Use three pronged, grounded extension cords. • Always places hoses where they will not be tripped over.

16. Safety checklist • Checklists are an effective way to control hazards • Have students participate in filling out the checklist. This will help them learn that the condition of the art room and the tools are important.

17. QUIZ! • If there’s a mess on the floor, should it be swept or mopped? • Who do you contact if there are any maintenance issues in your room? (example, cracked floors, frayed carpeting) • Should power tools be used all over the classroom? • When is protective eye wear a good idea? • Are dull blades still dangerous?