Skidmore College Health and Safety Guidelines - Sculpture Studio

ACCESS

BUILDING ACCESS

Saisselin Art Center has 24 hour secure access through a swipe card system
The following exterior doors will be unlocked at 7:00 AM and locked at 11:00 PM, Monday through Friday:

• Loading dock entrance
• First floor entrance adjacent to Ceramics and Fiber Arts
• Main west entrance from the covered walkway
• First floor east entrance by Filene

After 11:00 PM students must use their swipe cards to enter the building.

STUDIO ACCESS

Only those students currently registered in a course may have access to this studio, its tools and materials.  All others must receive individual permission from the Professor prior to using any tool or material within this facility.  For safety reasons, your friends, family, etc. cannot be permitted to remain in the studio when it is being used.

STUDIO SAFETY

Read and follow all Studio Safety Guidelines for the Department of Art posted in the hallways.

Smoking in all studios is expressly forbidden.

Never work in this studio if you are:

• Under the influence of any drug (including alcohol)
• Over-tired or distracted

SCULPTURE STUDIO ACCESS

The sculpture studio is open weekdays from 8:00 AM until 5:30 PM to all students officially enrolled in sculpture classes.  The studio is locked at all other times, but students have access to general studio work spaces at any time (two of the doors have combination lock).  At posted times (evenings and weekends) Student Assistants are available in the studio.  The assistants can provide access to tools and will offer other help.  While working late at night is permitted, work after 12:00 AM is discouraged

AUTHORIZED PROJECTS

All students must be enrolled in a sculpture course to be allowed access to the equipment.  The shop supervisor will have access to enrollment lists and he will require that student projects relate to academic endeavors.  He will also be responsible for the assignment of student storage areas and will work closely with all classes in this regard.  Each individual storage area must be clearly labeled with the student’s name and class.  Unfortunately, due to space considerations, there may be a limitation to the size of individual projects.  Special permission must be received for projects that are too large for student storage spaces.

SHOP SUPERVISOR

In addition to the Head of Sculpture, the Shop Supervisor is responsible for overseeing all of the activity with specialized equipment in all of the three-dimensional facilities.  In addition, the shop supervisor is the art Department’s Safety Coordinator.  He is responsible for the assignment of student storage areas; and works closely with all students involved with technically challenging projects.  The sculpture shop area is open during class and at other posted times during the day.  Hand tools and other minor equipment necessary for class assignments are stored in secured areas.  Students may also make arrangements to borrow tools with the understanding that they are billed for the cost of the tool if it is not returned by the end of the semester.

WOOD SHOP AND METAL AREA

The shop supervisor looks over the entire sculpture facility and supervises student access to equipment.  The specialized shop areas are open during class as well as at other posted times during the week.  He meets individually with students who have special needs, but it is the responsibility of that student to arrange a mutually acceptable schedule.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is not only required by regulation but is also good safety practice. PPE should be provided or made available to faculty and staff when the process requires such equipment; students should acquire their own PPE when the process requires such equipment, unless the university provides the PPE to the students. PPE may include gloves, eye and face protection, protective clothing, foot protection and possibly respiratory protection. Workshop/studio instructors, Department Safety Coordinators, and/or EH & IS will determine a need for such equipment, monitor its effectiveness, train the students/employees, and monitor and enforce the proper use of such equipment.

Employees and students who are required to wear PPE must be trained in the following:

• When PPE is necessary
• What type of PPE is necessary
• How to don, remove, adjust and wear PPE

RESPIRATORS  
N-95 dust masks only.

EYE AND FACE PROTECTION
Use goggles and face shields against flying particles, chemical splashes and dusts, and radiation. Flying Particles: The equipment designed to protect against flying particles produced in grinding, chipping and machining are four basic types: (1) spectacles with or without side shields, (2) flexible fitting goggles, (3) cushion fitting goggles with rigid frame, and (4) chipping goggles. Goggles without side shields are not recommended. If you are wearing a face shield, you should wear goggles underneath. Chemical Splashes and Dusts: If protection is needed against eye irritation, or from dusts and noncorrosive chemicals use hooded goggles. If there is a chemical splash risk, then face shields should be used with goggles underneath. If non-ventilated goggles are used against irritating vapors, a non-fogging goggle should be used. For severe exposure from irritating vapors, full-face respirators are preferred. Radiation: Ultraviolet, infrared, and visible glare radiation require goggles with appropriate degrees of shading. Processes include: welding, brazing, furnace operations including kilns, molten metals, and carbon arcs. Use the darkest shade you can while still having visibility. For protection against infrared radiation use welding goggles with shade numbers between 1.7 and 2.5, or polycarbonate goggles developed for infrared radiation.

GLOVES
Gloves are one of the most important ways of preventing skin problems. Gloves are available that can protect you against most skin hazards. These include chrome tanned leather gloves for protection against heat, sparks, molten metal, chipping, and cuts; fabric work gloves against dirt, abrasion, cold and slivers; metal mesh gloves protect against knives and similar tools (but not power tools); and plastic and rubber gloves to protect against corrosive and toxic liquids.

EAR PLUGS
Pliable rubber, plastics or wax plugs can reduce noise levels by 25-30 dB. Can be used at noise levels of 115-120 dB.

EAR MUFFS
Ear muffs provide 10-15dB more protection than ear plugs. Use against noise levels in the range of 130-135 dB. Wear a combination of ear plugs and ear muffs to get greater noise reduction.

HEAD AND FOOT PROTECTION
If you have long hair, wear a hair-restraining cap when working around machinery or chemicals. Wear protective headgear when welding. Hard hats can be used to protect against falling objects, flying particles and electric shock. Safety shoes may be needed to protect against electric shock, sparks, or molten metal or glass, heavy stones in sculpture or printmaking. These shoes also help prevent static electricity when working with large amounts of flammable solvents

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

The nature of many of the projects will require access to some of the more sophisticated equipment in the studio.  Unfortunately, many of these technologies pose special hazards.  As a consequence, it is required that students must use some of these tools under the direct supervision of the shop supervisor or another faculty member.  While we encourage independence, students must understand that each project that involves potentially dangerous processes must be undertaken with the consultation and permission of faculty involved.  The shop supervisor and faculty will make special efforts to meet all student needs, including special scheduling outside of the regular class times, if necessary.  Students are urged to organize themselves accordingly.

These procedures represent the accepted minimum standards that professionals use to administer a program like ours safely and economically.  To assist us in scheduling for outside help, we may ask that you give the shop supervisor your schedule (we have a form for that purpose).  This insures that in the event you need specialized assistance outside of class, you and the shop supervisor can find a mutually agreed upon time.

CLEAN UP

STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES FOR SINK TRAPS

• Any waste products poured down the drain must be approved by Saratoga County Sewer and Water and city engineer.
• Only put approved substances down sink drains. Check with your professor to determine what is appropriate to put down sink.
• Saratoga Country Sewer and Water District authorities control and monitor what waste products can be poured down drains in order to keep water resources safe and sustainable.