Developing Environmental Developing Environmental Safety in the Arts – Princeton’s Safety in the Arts – Princeton’s ApproachApproach

Robin IzzoAssistant Director

Environmental Health and Safety

Princeton University

www.princeton.edu/ehs

rmizzo@princeton.edu

609-258-6259

EpiphanyEpiphany

UVM Screen Printing Room Solvent-based inks No ventilation 100+ year old building

Vermont Artists Consortium Did VanGogh Die for Art?

Visual Arts at Princeton Visual Arts at Princeton

Undergraduate Visual Arts Theater Dance Students have 24 hour access Majors have shared or personal studios 1000 enrolled students in art courses

~500 Visual Arts majors

Visual Arts at PrincetonVisual Arts at Princeton

~55 Visual Arts Faculty 22 “permanent”

Mostly dance, theater, writing, computer graphics Remainder are “adjunct” faculty

Turnover every 1-3 years Most commute from New York City

Faculty required to be on campus 2 days per week

Usually not in until after 1 PM

Visual Arts at PrincetonVisual Arts at Princeton

Painting and Drawing Sculpture Lithography Photography Printmaking Ceramics Video Theater and Dance

Why an Art Safety Program?Why an Art Safety Program?

Health and safety issues Environmental concerns Fire safety issues Hazard Communication Right to Know Many artists are not familiar with most of

these issues

Art HazardsArt Hazards

Painting Sculpture Photography Ceramics Lithography Theater

Environmental IssuesEnvironmental Issues

RCRA Hazardous Waste

Clean Air Act Spray booths Sculpture shop

Clean Water Act Ceramics Drain disposal

Princeton’s ProgramPrinceton’s Program

Previously treated generically general Hazard Communication Program general Hazard Communication Training Right to Know Inventories Respirator Program Waste Disposal

Relatively good shape

Princeton’s ProgramPrinceton’s Program

EHS Overall Trend move from broad based programs to specialized

programs common problem - expectations not

communicated identify goals and objectives, work with

department to determine how to make it work based on their needs

Princeton’s ProgramPrinceton’s Program Specialized Training Program

all incoming faculty all students review specific issues quiz

Inspections Semi-annual EHS inspections Monthly departmental inspections

Princeton’s ProgramPrinceton’s Program

Theater Safety Program Staff and student in the Theater Program Student Theater Groups

Theater In-Time Triangle Club

Training Program On-line Student Theater Safety Guide

www.princeton.edu/sites/ehs/theatersafety

Princeton’s ProgramPrinceton’s Program

Student Theater Safety Training Event Planning

Fire code permits, security needs, etc. Emergency Procedures Set Design and Construction

Rigging, power tools, chemical safety, etc. Lighting and Sound Special effects Performance Strike

Princeton’s ProgramPrinceton’s Program

Environmental Stewardship University policy

Long-standing policy on regulatory fines EPA, OSHA, State, etc. Fines from violations are the responsibility of

the department where the violation was noted Department can pass along fines to labs,

groups, etc.

Princeton Art Safety TrainingPrinceton Art Safety Training

Hazard Communication Program Understanding Chemical Safety Info Spill Cleanup Waste Disposal Medium-Specific Concerns

PaintingPainting Pigments

“hues”

Thinners Linseed Oil

autoignition

Adhesives sensitizers

Oil-based paints Turpentine

sensitizer - odorless thinner is better alternative

Paint PigmentsPaint Pigments

Antimony True Naples Yellow Resp and GI Irritation

Arsenic Cobalt violetEmerald Green

Skin/eye/GI irritationCNS disorders, Cancer

Cadmium All cadmium pigments Lung, kidney, CNS diseaseHigh BP, anemia

Chromium Chromium green, strontiumyellow, viridian, chromeyellow, zinc yellow

Skin, respiratory irritationAllergiesLung cancer

Lead Flake white, mixed white,Naples or chrome yellow

CNS disorder, GI problems

Manganese Burnt amber, Mn blue, Mnviolet, Mars brown

Respiratory irritationCNS problems

Mercury Vermillion CNS disease

Precautions for PaintersPrecautions for Painters

Know the what is in your pigments. Use the least toxic.

Avoid mixing dry pigments. Avoid hand to mouth contact. Don’t use your mouth to point your brush. Avoid using turpentine - use thinner Use least dusty forms of chalk, pastels, etc.

PhotographyPhotography

Developer alkaline

Stop Bath acetic acid

Fixers Disposal problems

Reducer Mix with concentrated

acid or high heat, can release cyanide gas

Many photochemicals are sensitizers

Precautions for PhotographersPrecautions for Photographers

Use liquid chemistry Avoid skin exposure Cover baths when not

in use. Use pre-mixed chemicals Rinse with water between acid bleach step

and fixing steps. (sulfur dioxide gas) Use good ventilation.

CeramicsCeramics

Silica - silicosis sand, perlite, grog,

vermiculite

Mold - wet clay Musculo-skeletal problems Glazes - metals Skin irritation

clay, glazes

Kiln - fumes, CO, IR

Precautions for CeramicsPrecautions for Ceramics

Use pre-mixed clay. Use good ventilation. Clean daily. Moisturize hands. Avoid lead glazes Use gloves when handling glazes Use good ventilation and CO for kiln Wear IR goggles when looking into kiln Electrical safety and good material handling

SculptureSculpture

Wood shop - same hazards and concerns as maintenance, etc.

Plasters, silica, etc. Spray Paint Clay Paints Mold-making

Resins

Precautions for SculptorsPrecautions for Sculptors

Use eye and face protection Choose the least hazardous woods and stones Do not use plaster for casting body parts Use good lifting techniques Protect hands against vibration of hand tools Use machining tools under supervision

Precautions for SculptorsPrecautions for Sculptors

Take breaks to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome

Avoid chlorinated waxes Protect against electrical hazards Wear gloves when applying epoxy glues

and hardeners, formaldehyde glues or solvent-based adhesives

Lithography/PrintmakingLithography/Printmaking

Linseed Oil Solvents Sharp Tools Hot Plates Inks Nitric acid

contamination with solvents

disposal

Environmental ConcernsEnvironmental Concerns

Waste disposal solvents, oils oily rags photochemicals acids and bases sharps empty chemical containers glazes

Environmental ConcernsEnvironmental Concerns

Drain disposal fixers thinners

Air emissions paint spray booths exhaust from woodworking equipment

EPA Initiative focus on art department dumpster diving

Pollution PreventionPollution Prevention

Use “hues” High flashpoint solvents (Turpenoid) Baby Oil for brush cleaning Digital photography Silver recovery Recycle everything possible

Institutional Recycling Network

Getting StartedGetting Started

Partnership between department and EHS to determine expectations and requirements

Ordered and installed needed materials Mandatory meeting with faculty White tornado of corrective actions Meet with students and faculty to explain

new procedures and provide specialized training

Getting StartedGetting Started

Videotaped meeting and training for those who could not attend.

Began frequent inspections. Notified faculty and students about infractions.

Included building janitor in training, particular attention on waste disposal.

Recruited casual employee to conduct inspections of studios twice weekly.

InitiativesInitiatives

Standardized containers Pre-printed labels MSDS proliferation Signage Spill Kits Purchasing Restrictions Waste Disposal

Improvements Inspections

Standardized ContainersStandardized Containers

Previously - any available glass container - often food or drink containers

Difficult to identify what was a chemical container vs. a true food container

Pre-labeled mason jars required. Lids available - required when material not in use.

Pre-Printed Waste LabelsPre-Printed Waste Labels

Color-coded printed labels provided by EHS for regular waste streams

Waste poster with label supply Sample labels affixed to cabinets.

MSDSsMSDSs

Always good about keeping MSDSs on hand, but accessibility was an issue.

MSDS notebook for every classroom.

Clearly labeled. Chained to cabinets.

SignageSignage

Instructions posted in every room drain disposal

restrictions MSDS locations Closing checklist Spill kit locations

No excuse for not following procedures

Lamination

SignageSignage

Spill KitsSpill Kits

Increased number of spill kits to ensure all areas covered.

Provided training on how and when to use them.

Purchasing RestrictionsPurchasing Restrictions

Non-majors cannot bring in personal materials

Majors have a budget All materials purchased through technician

or approved by technician Ensures MSDS availability and hazard

assessment

Waste Disposal ImprovementsWaste Disposal Improvements

Clarified expectations Standardized waste

containers Standardized labeling Inspections

InspectionsInspections

EHS involved in first rounds

Monthly inspections by department staff

Weekly inspections of student areas by casual employee

Assistance by janitor Public violation notice

InspectionsInspections

Most Common “Violations” noted Incompletely labeled containers Flammable liquid storage cabinets not closed

tightly Lids or foil covers missing from individual

containers of thinners Rags left on the floor Funnels left in waste containers Labels on containers in cabinet not facing out

How Can You Do This?How Can You Do This?

Learn about the issues Find out what your art department does. Familiarize yourself about the issues using

reference materials. Determine which issues apply to your

institution.

How Can You Do This?How Can You Do This?

Find the right people find your champion may not be the department chair or manager educate the people with authority about the

issues and the potential consequences people money

Work with them to find workable solutions

TrainingTraining

Establish a specialized training program. Find a way to include everyone in the

training. Not just classroom training

faculty pass it onto the students inspections/problem discussion also help

educate people

Inspect and Follow UpInspect and Follow Up

Inspections/follow-up absolutely crucial. Do not drop and dash. Follow it through. Frequent at first, then taper off as

improvements made. Feedback to faculty and students.

Accountability is crucial. Celebrate successes.

ResourcesResources

Web Sites Center for Safety in the Arts

http://artsnet.heinz.cmu.edu:70/0/csa ACTS: Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety

http://www.caseweb.com/acts/ Princeton Univ Art Safety Training Guide

http://www.princeton.edu/sites/ehs/artsafety Princeton Univ Theater Operations Manual

http://www.princeton.edu/sites/ehs/theatersafety

BooksBooks Artist Beware - Michael McCann, PhD, CIH The Artist’s Complete Health and Safety Guide, Monona

Rossol, MS, MFA Overexposure: Photography Hazards -Susan Shaw and

Monona Rossol Making Art Safely - M. Spandorfer, D. Curtiss, J. Snyder,

MD Stage Fright: Health & Safety in Theater - Monona Rossol,

MS, MFA Health Hazards Manual for Artists - Michael McCann, PhD,

CIH

Questions???Questions???

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