| 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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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. |
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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 |
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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. |
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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 |
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| 13 |
Lead |
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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 |
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Lead, barium, cadmium haz. |
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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 |
