Workshop health and safety

The best way to avoid injury in the workshop is to be aware of the risks around you, and to work to mitigate them. Many things in life have an element of risk; from crossing the road, to bungee jumping. Once we have understood the risks, know how to use the equipment, and understand the material we can minimise these risks. Personal safety in a workshop is very much about being aware:

• An awareness of possible dangers is gained by knowing the right way to perform a task; as well as knowing the possible consequences of doing things the wrong way.
• Concentrating on the task in hand is essential. Many accidents are caused by people simply not giving their full attention to what they are doing.

A successful workshop safety policy has 3 fundamental components:

• Understand the risks posed by each hand tool, power tool, machine, or chemical.
• Implement a safe working procedure for each process (sawing, soldering, polishing etc.) that takes these risks into account.
• Always follow each safety procedure and never take risky short cuts.

Personal hygiene

As the term handmade jewellery implies, your hands are in almost constant contact with all the metals and chemicals in the workshop. In addition to this, you may subconsciously touch your face, rub your eyes, or even pick your nose many times in a day. Here are some ways to help protect yourself:

• Regular hand washing is important to reduce contamination though skin contact, eye contact and ingestion.
• Hands should always be washed after handling toxic substances.
• Thoroughly wash your hands at the end of a jewellery making session, after everything has been packed away.
• Wash your hands, remove your work clothes, and leave the workshop prior to eating or smoking.
• Gentle hand soap should be used, harsh soap will greatly increase the chances of developing dermatitis.

Clothing

Basic common sense should be used when choosing what clothing should be worn in the workshop. A few points to consider when selecting appropriate work attire are:

• No clothing should be able to get caught on moving machinery, as this could be fatal. Do not wear a tie in the workshop.
• Tie back long hair for the same reason as above. Tying back long hair will also help prevent face touching and distraction should it fall across your face.
• Leave work clothes in the workshop, don't wear them around the home.
• All-in-one overalls make changing for rest breaks more convenient.
• Wash work clothes regularly.
• Work clothes should be washed separately from the rest of the family laundry.
• Mend any rips or holes in work clothes, otherwise they afford less protection from chemicals, dust and sparks. Rips are also more likely to catch on moving machinery.
• Avoid synthetic material, cotton is far less flammable than most man-made fibres.
• Wear proper shoes with enclosed toes, in case you drop hot metal, a sharp blade, or acid.
• Steel toe capped boots are a good idea if you use any heavy equipment such as gas bottles or anvils.
• Leather aprons offer good protection if casting, grinding, or welding.
• Plastic aprons are a cheap form of protection against acid splashes.
• Do not wear rings or watches. They can easily get caught on buffing wheels, and may trap chemicals against your skin.

Workshop facilities

Many amateur jewellers start their hobby by working in their main living space: the kitchen, the living room, or their bedroom. This is perfectly acceptable for many of the projects that a novice may undertake such as beading or wire work. These activities do not create hazardous working conditions, and when considered for risk are on a par with crochet or painting. If the activity involves any of the following, then a separate environment should ideally be created:

• Chemicals
• Dust
• Vapour
• Gas
• Noisy tools

Modern homes already contain many chemicals, but there is no reason to add to this. Special care should be taken in homes with young children, as smaller bodies are more readily affected by noxious substances. It is preferable to have your workshop in a different building, such as a garage or shed.

Remember: Much like cigarette smoke, many chemicals that get dispersed around your environment are not visible to the eye.

The distinction between work area and living areas must be maintained. Change your clothes when not working, and don't eat, drink or smoke in your work area. This clear separation of environments will give your body a chance to recover from the harmful materials that you may be exposed to.

Workshop layout

The workshop should be kept clean and tidy at all times - a well organised workspace is both safer and more efficient. Keeping the workshop well organised will reduce the risk of accidents happening. Have an allocated place for each main process: forming, soldering, pickling, polishing etc. This approach will mean that equipment and materials can be located quickly, and there will be sufficient room to perform a given task comfortably. Make sure that each item is put back in the correct place as soon as it is finished with.

Keep a bowl of cold water and a fire extinguisher next to the soldering hearth. A complete first aid kit should also be kept in the workshop, and it's location should be known by everybody who has access to the room. Make sure that if an item is used that it is replaced.

Slips, trips and falls

Slips and trips are the most common types of workplace accident, and make up over a third of all major injuries. Over 10,000 workers suffered serious injury because of a slip or trip last year [source: Health and Safety Executive 2012]. Most of these accidents are preventable. The workshop floor should be kept free of clutter. Anything on the workshop floor can be tripped over, and there are many sharp/hard surfaces to bump into.

Tips for avoiding slip and trip hazards include:

• Do not leave tools lying on the floor.
• Pick up waste material regularly.
• Tidy away any trailing cables.
• Do not wear shoes with a slippery sole.
• Clean up liquid spills straight away, using appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Always carry cutting tools, such as saws and chisels, with their cutting edges pointing downwards.

Flooring

The floor surface of the workshop should be of a material that can withstand acids and heavy weights without extensive damage. The floor should also have an even surface to prevent tripping, and not too shiny to avoid slipping. Wooden and carpeted floors are too absorbent, and will be a fire hazard if flammable chemicals are spilled over it. Vinyl floor coverings intended for kitchen, bathroom, or light commercial use are cheap and easy to source.

Lighting

Good lighting is essential for comfortable working on intricate objects. If any signs of eye strain are noticed after a period of work then the working conditions should be reviewed. When natural light is insufficient, then additional lamps will be required. Neither natural sunlight or artificial lighting should create glare or cast strong shadows over the work area. Subdued lighting conditions are helpful in monitoring subtle colour changes in metal during annealing and soldering. This should be a temporary state, easily brought about by closing blinds or switching off lamps.

Dust

Dust is composed of small particles of material. The smaller the particles, the more easily that they can be stirred up and become airborne. Larger particles may be trapped in the nose or get as far as the upper parts of the lung, these are usually removed naturally by the body. However, very fine particles can become permanently lodged deep within the lungs if breathed in. This can give rise to chronic diseases such as silicosis if simple preventative measures are not taken:

• Do not blow dust away, if you do it can be easily breathed in and may get in your eyes.
• Reduce the amount of dust created. If a large amount of material needs to be removed, use a saw or file. Only use sanding for small amounts of material.

Chemicals

Traditional silversmithing has a long history of chemical use. Many processes have used hazardous materials such as asbestos, lead, sulphur, cadmium, and cyanide. Always read the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for any chemicals that you buy. If the supplier does not have a copy then contact the manufacturer. All chemicals should be stored stored safely in an appropriate container. The best way to ensure this is to keep unused chemicals in the original container that they were supplied in. Any mixed chemicals or solutions should be stored in clearly and permanently marked containers. If you use a container from your home, do not allow these containers to be re-used for food. Clear up any breakages or spills straight away, but do not use household towels for this.

There are 3 approaches to minimising risk from airborne hazards such as dust, fumes, or vapour:

• Elimination - remove the threat by using a safer alternative.
• Ventilation.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Elimination

The most effective way to decrease or eliminate a health hazard is to find a less toxic substitute. Some substances like cyanide or asbestos are so toxic that their use should not be considered by an amateur. The amount of specialist knowledge and equipment necessary for safe working is such that these highly hazardous materials cannot be used. There are modern safer alternatives to the acids traditionally used in pickling and etching. If there is a genuine need to use an acid, avoid undiluted industrial strength products; and always use a fume hood for ventilation.

The layout of a workshop should be such that all process involving health hazards are isolated in a clearly defined section. This section should have easy access to safety and clean up equipment such as ventilation, a sink, gloves, and a respirator. Care should be taken to not carry hazardous material from this area to other parts of the home by observing the personal hygiene guidelines and by cleaning up and mess or spills straight away.

Ventilation

Ventilation is essential for any process that uses chemicals or creates dust, gas or vapour. There are 2 distinct types of ventilation:

• Localised exhaust ventilation - this removes the contaminated air at the source before it has a chance to merge with the general atmosphere, and get breather by anybody.
• Dilution ventilation - this method mixes the contaminated air with fresh air until it is diluted to a point where it is within acceptable safety levels.

Exhaust ventilation is the preferred method as it removes the harmful elements. Hazardous substances should be removed from your environment at the earliest opportunity, before they have a chance to disperse.

There a several factors to consider when setting up a workshop ventilation system:

• Make sure that the vented air is not re-directed to another part of the home.
• The air suction should take place as close as possible to the work.
• A fume hood should not be set up so that it draws contaminated air past the user's face.
• Make sure that there is a source of fresh air to replace the air that has been drawn out. Failure to do so will result in negative pressure that will reduce the effectiveness of the ventilation.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Special equipment such as clothing, hearing protectors, or goggles to protect the body. However, the use of PPE should only be used when other methods of eliminating the health risk are inadequate. This is because it only offers protects whilst being worn, and only protects the wearer and not other people. It is also important that PPE is worn for the entire duration of exposure to the hazard. Do not cut corners for quick jobs, there are no acceptable levels of exposure to hazardous substances.

Body burden

The term body burden refers to the total amount of harmful substances present within the body at any one time. Although some chemicals are only retained for a short time, others can remain trapped in the body's tissue for years or even decades. Incremental exposure to hazardous substances will gradually increase the body burden of certain substances. This means that even small amounts of exposure to hazardous substances can eventually have a harmful effect.

When selecting PPE, ask yourself these questions:

• Is the equipment suitable for the conditions that the process creates?
• Does it offer sufficient protection?
• Do you need training or help to use the equipment safely?
• Will the equipment need maintenance or periodic replacement?
• Can it be adjusted so that it fits the individual correctly?
• Is it comfortable to wear for the amount of time that it will be used for?
• Are all items compatible? (Example: make sure that respirators do not prevent safety goggles from fitting correctly)

If you are unsure of any details, contact the supplier or the manufacturer.

Types of PPE

Eyes

Hazards: liquid chemical or molten metal splashes, dust, projectiles, gas and vapour, strong light.

Equipment: safety spectacles, goggles, welding visors.

Breathing

Hazards: dust, vapour, and gas.

Equipment: disposable dust maks, respirators for organic and inorganic gas.

Body

Hazards: temperature extremes, abrasion, chemical or metal splash, blunt impact, sharp object penetration, contaminated dust.

Equipment: overalls, smocks, leather or plastic aprons, specialist gloves, safety boots.

Regardless of the types of PPE chosen, it must be well maintained and stored correctly when not being used. Although the initial cost of all the equipment may be high, with care it can last for many years.