COSHH (Clay Health & Safety)

You need to make sure you are careful when working with clay, especially if you are a ceramicist and you are working with clay everyday.

 Hazards:

• Ceramics work can produce  airborne  respirable crystalline silica (RCS).
• All RCS is hazardous which can cause silicosis.This is a serious disease causing permanent disability and early death.
• Silicosis is made worse by smoking.
• 'Respirable' means that the dust can get to the deepest part of the lungs. This dust is invisible under normal lighting as it's so fine.
• Remember that drips and spills that dry off are a source of dust.Keep inhalation of RCS as low as possible.
• When all controls are applied properly, less that 0.1 mg/m3 RCS is usually achievable (based on an 8-hour time-weighted average).

Equipment:

• Provide a good standard of general ventilation. Use powered fans to supply fresh air.
• Use clay with a lower silica content.
• Keep surfaces clean - never let slip, clay or glaze spills dry out.
• Remember that handling  used moulds creates dust.
• Use wire rather than elastic bands to hold moulds together.
• Use a bin to collect scraps and damp slip.
• Avoid hand sweeping. If this is not possible, damp down thoroughly before cleaning up.
• Use a type H vacuum cleaner fitted with a HEPA filter to remove dry slip from mould exteriors.

 

Maintenance:

• Clean down the equipment before starting maintenance - use wet or dustless methods
• Daily, look for signs of damage. Noisy or vibrating fans can indicate a problem.
• Get a competent engineer to examine the system thoroughly and test it's performance regularly.
• Carry out air sampling to check that the controls are working well.

Cleaning and housekeeping:

• Store empty bags outside the workroom. Dispose of waste safely.
• Clean down the enclosure and equipment as soon as possible after use.
• Use a type H vacuum cleaner fitted with a HEPA filter to clear up dust e.g. on overhead fittings.
• Damp down and shovel large amounts carefully to avoid stirring up dust. Provide respiratory protective equipment (RPE).

COSHH Website Link
http://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/

 Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
http://www.hse.gov.uk/legislation/hswa.htm