Safety Procedures Visual Arts Plano Independent School District Janice Truitt, Visual Arts Coordinator Fine Arts Department Plano Independent School District 1
General Safety Procedures: Exposure to hazardous material can occur by inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact. Powders, vapors, gases, and aerosols may be inhaled and pass to lungs. Contaminated drinks and foods may be digested and pass to organs. Caustic substances and solvents can cause skin damage and pass to organs. Label, date and store all materials and chemicals properly. Chemicals: Elementary students are not to be exposed to hazardous substances such as rubber cement, paint thinner, turpenoid, and aerosol cans. At the secondary level aerosol cans must be sprayed outdoors with teacher supervision. Wear face mask and gloves if using sprays that can be harmful to the lungs or skin. Chlorine bleach is not permitted. Flammable liquids must be stored in a locked metal cabinet if you have more than 1 gallon total. Use turpenoid instead of paint thinner. Take precautions to avoid spills. Plano Independent School District 2
Keep hazardous Material Safety Data Sheets on file for accessibility. No glazes with lead are allowed. Use premixed nontoxic liquid glazes. Avoid paints and glazes in powered form. Chemicals in powdered form can be harmful to lungs. Wear face mask when mixing plaster. The powder can be harmful to lungs. Plaster cures by chemical reaction. The plaster will become warm, sometimes hot as it cures. This can be harmful to skin. Never pour plaster, plaster dust or clay down the drain. Never pour any harmful chemicals down the drain. Dispose of waste materials properly. Do not accumulate paint cans. Dispose them as used, when there is less than 3% of the original content. Dispose of waste materials properly. Power Tools: No power tools are to be used by elementary or middle school students except low temp hot glue guns. High school and senior high school students can only use power tools and hot glue guns with teacher supervision. Follow all manufacturers guidelines. Students must be taught how to use power tools and hot glue guns safely before they can use the tools. Permission form must be signed by parents for students to use power tools and hot glue guns even if they are 18. Students must pass safety checklist/quiz for tool before they can use the tool. Be sure to unplug tools before attempting to repair them or change blades. Never unplug someone s tool while it is in use. Keep all areas around saws clear. Use tools only as they are designed to be used. If tool comes with a safety guard always use the tool with the safety guard in place. Wear goggles and facemask when harmful dust is created. It is best to do these activities outdoors with teacher supervision. Wear hearing protection if loud tools are used. Plano Independent School District 3
Wear close-toed shoes that protect your feet when using power tools. No dangling objects. (I.E. ties, necklaces, earrings, watches, loose clothes, loose hair) near power tools. No liquids are allowed near power tools. Make sure tools are cleaned before they are put away and keep them maintained. Store power tools in a safe location that can be locked. Electricity: Electricity can kill. Never have any cords exposed to water. Always remove a plug from a wall or sockets by the plug and not the cord. Inspect plugs regularly for damage. Never touch exposed wire. Computers: Do not store any items on top of computers. Use computer space only for computers. Monitor students while on computers. Computers are only to be used for educational purposes with approved software. Computers are not to be used to play unapproved games. Teachers must supervise students when they are using the internet. Do not use computer plugs to plug in hot glue guns, hair dryers, or other items. First Aid: A First Aid Kit must be stored in a location in the art program area. All injuries should be reported to the nurse no matter how small. Post nurses extension in classroom. In a medical emergency do not move the person. Someone must stay with the injured individual. Administer first aid. Follow campus safety procedures. Follow district procedure for blood borne pathogens. Plano Independent School District 4
Other: Wear safety goggles when carving, using wire, and using other hazardous materials. Store dangerous materials such as X-Acto knives in a safe location that can be locked. Occasionally clean the area around you while working to avoid accidents. Put everything back in its proper place. Limit clutter. Use common sense. Teachers are to serve as a role model of good safety practices. Plano Independent School District 5
Kiln Safety Procedures: Kiln is to be located 12-18 inches from the wall. Furniture needs to be at least 18 inches from the kiln. Have a 3 foot clear passage to the kiln. Keep area around kiln free from clutter at all times. Never place anything on the kiln lid, even when it is not firing. If people become accustomed to placing papers and other objects on the kiln they may forget and do that while the kiln is firing. Down draft kiln must be fired with the lid closed and all peep holes plugged. When the kiln is not in use keep the lid closed and the disconnect box on off. Keep unsupervised students away from the kiln room. Only Plano ISD trained personnel may load, unload, and operate kilns. Only approved kiln repair vendor may repair kiln. Contact Art Coordinator. Plano Independent School District 6
Store only ceramic items in kiln room. Do not store paper, wood, flammable, or other items in kiln room. No lead glazes are allowed. If a ceramic piece is functional only food safe glazes can be used as indicted on glaze label. Glazed projects must be fired on stilts. No glaze ¼ from the bottom and on the bottom of projects. Wipe clean with damp cloth. Never fire tempered glass inside a kiln. It could explode. Wear a respirator when using powdered glazing/staining chemicals. It is safer to use premixed non-toxic liquid glazes. Plano Independent School District 7
Prepare Kiln Shelves Kiln wash comes in the box with the kiln furniture. Kiln Wash Add water to kiln wash to the consistency of cream. Wear a face mask when mixing the kiln wash. Avoid breathing the powder. Brush on one side of the shelves at least once a year. Plano Independent School District 8
Use a step ladder when you load the kiln if kiln is 3 tiered. Do not place your weight on the walls of the kiln. The bricks will break. At least once a year vacuum bottom of kiln and elements to remove debris. Place shelf supports on bottom of kiln. Never place clay projects on bottom of kiln. Plano Independent School District 9
Add kiln shelves. Turn on disconnect box when you are starting the firing process. Kiln room should never exceed 100-110 F First firing, the kiln is empty and fired to cone 01. Turn on vent for all firings. Keep on until cooled down. Plano Independent School District 10
Load kiln. Lower kiln lid. Lower Vent-A-Hood for downdraft kilns. Leave a space of 4 inches so motor will not overheat. Bisque fire to cone 06-04. Glaze fire to 05. Check on kiln during firing process. When no steam is escaping from top peep hole you can add peephole plug. Updraft kilns can fire with one peephole open. Downdraft kilns fire with all peep holes closed. When kiln fires to completion it will read CPLT. Turn disconnect box to off position when kiln is not in use. No firing overnight with exception to the teachers that proved through training to Art Coordinator they have knowledge for early, delayed and extended firings. Maximum temperature is 500. These teachers must have their names on file with the Art Coordinator. Do not open or prop open lid until kiln reaches room temperature. Sign the Plano Independent School District Visual Arts Safety form after you have read the manual. Plano Independent School District 11