Jassan+W

The Potential Hazards of Chemicals in the Theater
There are chemical hazards in connection with art material such as toxicity, flammability, and reactivity. People involved have to understand these hazards and to know the precautions to protect against illness or injury. Materials that are highly toxic, flammable, or reactive can be handled safely if the proper precautions are followed However, even materials of low toxicity that are normally considered to be safe can lead to accidents and toxic exposures Material safety: Product labels are good sources of initial information about the principal hazards associated with a container's contents. And a material data sheet has detailed information about the chemicals. How can Art Materials Affect Your Health: Determining whether an art material may cause harm depends not only on the toxicty of the material, but also the dose you receive. In order for an art material to affect your health, it must first enter your body and reach an area of body (termed the target organ or system) in a large enough concentration or dose to cause harm. How you can get it is inhale or get it on your skin. How to avoid this is a good ventilation of the work room, protective clothes like gogles, gloves and a coveralls. Good keeping is important and reduces risks of chemical exposure. Sort out the chemicals and put on cabinets not on the floor. Label chemicals and check if they are in good condtion. And no eating or drinking should be aloud. Safety equipment such as eye wash,fire extinguisher and a first aid kid should be near by and people should know how to use it. A phone should be near with emergency numbers clearly posted. Some example of potential hazardous chemicals used in the theatre scene shops, prop shops, and costume shops are paint pigments, solvents, varnishers and lacquers, costume dyes, ink, acids, caustics, glue, and sawdust. These are most of the things that are around us so me must be careful when we use them

Resources: 1. http://www.ci.tucson.az.us/arthazards/ 2. http://www.units.muohio.edu/ehso/downloads/brochures/Art%20Safety%20Brochure.pdf 3. http://www.ehs.indiana.edu/artists.shtml 4. http://ephs.csumb.edu/site/x6502.xml#Theater 5. http://www.osh.dol.govt.nz/order/catalogue/ipp/theatreguidelines11.pdf