Initiating Corrective Actions Through Knowledge & Cooperation Hannah French Chelsea Ermer

Prevention is the Key Students should avoid materials that may make them sick & techniques that can injure them As a teacher you should know about the materials you are using & the potential safety hazards that exist DO YOUR RESEARCH!

General Art-Making Space Conditions Housekeeping: Is there dirt, debris, and/or dust? Is there adequate storage & access? Is there visible safety information & warning signs? Tools & Equipment: What is the placement in the room? What is the condition of the tools and/or equipment? Is there a maintenance schedule? Lightning: Is natural & artificial light adequate? Ventilation: What are the provisions for fresh air?

Current Practices Instructional methods: How & to what extent are health & safety included? Health & safety procedures should be addressed thoroughly! Students’ responsibility: Do students know what is expected of them? Monitoring procedures: Who ensures that correct practices are followed? What are they consequences of infractions? (Pertaining to safety & discipline) Art activity space management: How is the distribution & pick up of tools being handled? How are the hazardous materials being handled? How is hazardous waste being disposed of & handled?

Age & Risk Group Bodily development: What are the natural defenses for the age of your students? Is manual dexterity well developed or had it been impaired by age or illness? Human weakness: What students may have allergies, chemical sensitivities, or respiratory problems? Exposure accumulation: What is the frequency & term of exposure? Medical records: Is a medical record kept for the teachers & art activity leaders whose exposure is long term? Skill development: Do students have adequate knowledge of correct procedures or do they take things for granted? Students must understand that the reasoning behind correct procedures is for their own safety & the safety of other students This is why pre-assessment & thorough instruction is imperative!

Materials & Activities Toxicity: What are the relative ratings of materials used? Ingestion, inhalation, & absorption through the skin: What are the possibilities of these occurring? Power tools: Is noise level a problem? Are tools located or used with concern for safety? Activities in the curriculum: Have they been selected to minimize problems?

Pre-Assessment Finding out what students already know is another important part of introducing a new art lesson Pre-activity tests can explain what students already know & what they need to learn regarding safety procedures Ways you can assess your student’s prior knowledge safety regarding different materials and processes: Written test Class discussion Peer demonstration

Pre-Assessment Pre-assessment test will provide the following information: Have they done this process before in another school or class? Have they already mastered the skills required? Do they know how to use the necessary tools? Do they understand the possible hazards of the process? Do they have any examples of previous works ?

Student’s Need to Know… Art materials can be dangerous if not handled with care & responsibility There is no need to fear the art materials or processes as long as you know the correct way to use them Just because you have worked with a material/process/tool before you may be unaware of the proper way to use or do it

Teachers Need to Remember… Students come to the art work space with no real understanding of the dangers involved with the materials or tools they will use Good art-making space management reduces accidents & injuries as well as health problems Less toxic materials can usually be substituted for toxic ones with little or no extra cost Learning how to use tools & equipment correctly & safely is no more difficult than learning how to use them incorrectly

Teachers Need to Remember… Practices learned in art-making activities will be those the students follow elsewhere & in subsequent years Teachers must find out what students do & do not know about art process & materials Lesson plans & hand outs should always include health & safety notes We can put students in charge of their own safety with materials but they must prove to us first that they are responsible & understand the proper safety measures

Teachers Need to Remember… This information alone does not create a health and safety program, it is up to us as teachers to be fully aware of existing conditions and implement appropriate practice!