MEETING REPORT

Health Hazards in the Potter's Studio

At the meeting on 17th October we were given a very
professional and informative discussion of the health
hazards petters face. The speaker was Hubert Hui of
the Workers! Compensation Board. He divided his subject
into physical hazards, chemical hazards anid eye damage.

1. Physical Hazards. After mentioning the prevention
of tripping and slipping, and the ideal of having
an uncluttered work area, Hubert talked of less
obvious things:-

Have enough light.

Position yourself and your work in such a way as to
reduce strain on the body. ;

There should be a fire exit and a fire extinguisher
in the studio. The dry chemical type of extingui-
sher is good for most types of fire, except for
combustible melal fires (pure metals, not their
oxides).

2. Chemical Hazards. There are three ways a chemical
can get into the body: by inhalation, through the
mouth, and by absorbtion through the skin. Toxicity
of a chemical depends on its concentraczion, the
amount present and the length of exposure to it.
Fach chemical has what is known as its "permissible
concentration", based on a eoncentration which will
produce no adverse health effect after an 8-hour
work ,day. Information about each chemical can be
obtained from its Material Safety Data Sheet, which
you could ask for when buying it. This sheet gives
technical data, protective equipment advise, health
hazard information, and spill or leak procedures.

At present, manufacturers cannot be forced to provide
this information, but some do,

3. Specific Chemical Hazards. Dust in the studio
contains free crystalline silica, which is very harm-
ful. Clean up dust with a wet mop or with an indus-

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