1. Hazards and Precautions in the Visual Arts

2. Hazards

3. Risk Factors Amount of exposure Length and frequency of exposure
Exposure conditions
Toxicity
Total Body Burden
Multiple exposures
High risk groups

4. High Risk Groups Children Smokers Heavy drinkers
People taking medications
Elderly
Disabled

5. Examples of Disabilities
Hearing impairment
Epilepsy
Emotional disturbance
Physical impairment
Chronic diseases
heart, lung, liver, etc.
Asthma and other allergies

6. Routes of Entry Skin contact and absorption Inhalation Ingestion
Injection
Example of injection is hand injuries from putting hand in front of airless spray gun.

7. Types of Diseases
Acute
Chronic

8. Skin Diseases Irritant dermatitis Allergic dermatitis Skin cancer
e.g., acids, alkalis, solvents, dichromates
Allergic dermatitis
e.g., turpentine, formaldehyde, nickel, dichromates, epoxies, tropical woods
Skin cancer
e.g., arsenic compounds, ultraviolet radiation

9. Eye Diseases Conjunctivitis Corneal damage Cataracts Blindness
e.g., alkalis, acids, other irritants, UV
Corneal damage
e.g., alkalis
Cataracts
e.g., infrared radiation
Blindness
e.g., silver nitrate, methyl alcohol

10. Acute Respiratory Diseases
Chemical pneumonia (pulmonary edema)
e.g., Dutch mordant, isocyanates,
cadmium fumes
Acute bronchitis
high concentrations of irritants

11. Acute Respiratory Diseases (Cont.)
Acute asthma and "hay fever"
e.g., fiber-reactive dyes, isocyanates
Hypersensitivity pneumonia
e.g. redwood dust, molds
Metal fume fever
e.g., zinc, copper fumes

12. Chronic Respiratory Diseases
Chronic bronchitis and emphysema
e.g., nitrogen dioxide
Pulmonary fibrosis
e.g., silicosis, asbestosis
Respiratory cancer
e.g., arsenic, chromates, nickel, asbestos, uranium oxide

13. Heart and Circulatory System Diseases
Heart muscle damage
e.g., barium and cobalt compounds
Heart arrhythmias
e.g., freons, methylene chloride, toluene
Hemoglobin diseases
e.g., methylene chloride, carbon monoxide, photographic developers
Anemias and bone marrow damage
e.g., lead, arsenic, benzene

14. Kidney and Bladder Diseases
Heat stress
Chemical damage to kidneys
e.g., cadmium, turpentine, lead,
chlorinated solvents
Bladder cancer
e.g., benzidine dyes

15. Liver Diseases Hepatitis Liver cancer
e.g., chlorinated solvents, toluene, xylene
Liver cancer
e.g., chlorinated solvents

16. Central Nervous System Diseases
Solvent narcosis (intoxication)
Encephalopathy - brain damage
e.g., high concentrations of solvents
Oxygen starvation
e.g., carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide
Central nervous system and heavy metals
e.g., manganese, lead, mercury

17. Peripheral Nervous System Diseases
Peripheral neuropathy
Metals (e.g., lead, arsenic)
Solvents (e.g., n-hexane, methyl butyl ketone)

18. Reproductive System Damage
Prior to pregnancy - effects on fertility
e.g., toluene, xylene, lead, cadmium
During pregnancy - miscarriages, birth defects
e.g., solvents, lead, carbon monoxide
After pregnancy - breast-feeding, infant exposures
e.g., solvents, lead, other toxic chemicals

19. Precautions

20. Precautions Know your materials Substitution Ventilation
Storage and Handling
Work practices and hygiene
Personal Protective Equipment
Medical check-ups

21. Know Your Materials Labels Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)
Other references

22. Substitutes Use least toxic chemicals
Use water-based instead of solvent-based
Use wet methods
Avoid carcinogens
Using substitutes - takes time to convert

23. Ventilation What is adequate ventilation? Dilution ventilation
not an open window!
Dilution ventilation
e.g., window exhaust fan
Local exhaust ventilation
capture contaminants
at source

24. Dilution Ventilation For small amounts of vapors or gases
Not for highly toxic vapors or gases
Not for dusts or fumes
Do not recirculate

25. Local Exhaust Ventilation
Hoods
Ducts
Fans
Air cleaners
Explosion-proof systems for flammable vapors and gases

26. Examples of Local Exhaust Systems

27. Rules for Good Ventilation
Use local exhaust
Provide make-up air
Direction of air flow:
Clean air passes by your face
Don’t put head under canopy hood
Enclose process
100% exhaust to outside
Don't place exhausts
next to air intakes
Maintenance

28. Storage and Handling Safe storage Fire prevention
Handling of chemicals
Housekeeping
Spills
Waste disposal

29. Safe Storage Purchase in small amounts Location of chemicals
avoid high shelves
Label materials
Cover containers
Incompatible chemicals
don’t store together (e.g. acids and ammonia)

30. Fire Prevention No sources of ignition near flammables
Flammable storage cabinets
Safety cans for solvents
Self-closing waste disposal cans
Solvent waste cans
Fire extinguishers

31. Fire Extinguishers Correct type (A, B, C, D, ABC) Location (near exit)
Class A: for ordinary combustible materials
Class B: for solvents and oil
Class C: for electrical fires
Class ABC: multipurpose
Location (near exit)
Training in use
Fire emergency procedures

32. Handling of Chemicals Cover all containers Containment - glove box
Transfer powders carefully
Avoid liquid splashes

33. Work Practices and Hygiene
No smoking, eating or drinking in studio area
Wear separate work clothes
Wash separately
Eyewash fountains
Do not use eyewash bottles
Emergency showers
Avoid electrical outlets near shower
Wash-up - do not use solvents

34. Housekeeping Do not sweep Wet mopping Vacuum cleaners
Sweeping stirs up dust
Wet mopping
Can hose down if have drain with clay trap
Vacuum cleaners
HEPA vacuum cleaners for silica (e.g., clay)

35. Spills of Flammable Liquids
Shut off open flames and open windows
Call fire department
Shut off power from outside room
Evacuate room and building, if needed
Wear SCBA for clean-up

36. Waste Disposal Use approved waste disposal companies
Do not pour solvents down sink
Use solvent waste cans
Aqueous liquids and sinks
Check with local sewer codes
Other sources of help

37. Personal Protective Equipment
Face and Eye protection
Don’t work without protection
Select type according to hazard
Gloves
Make sure is suitable for
type of liquid used
Hearing protection
Protective clothing
Respirators

38. Respirators Use as last resort Use NIOSH-approved respirators
Select proper types of
cartridges and filters
Fit testing
Limitations of respirators
Lung and other medical problems
Cleaning and maintenance
Storage
e.g., Ziplock plastic bag

39. Medical Check-ups Type of doctor What to tell your doctor
Most physicians don’t have training in occupational hazards
Occupational health physicians
What to tell your doctor
what art materials you use
Medical tests

40. Medical Tests Blood lead tests Tests for other chemicals
Rarely useful except for metals
Lung function tests and chest x-rays
Can detect lung problems in early stages
Hearing tests
Liver and kidney function tests
Used to detect liver and kidney damage

41. Thank you!