Safety Tips

From, “What You Need to Know About the Safety of Art & Craft Materials” brochure by The Art & Creative Materials Institute (ACMI)

• Read the label.

• Always use products that are appropriate for the individual user.  Children in grade six and lower and adults who may not be able to read and understand safe labeling should use only non-toxic materials.

• Do not use products that have passed their expiration date.

• Do not eat, drink or smoke while using art and craft materials.

• Wash up after use – Clean yourself and your supplies.

• Never use products for skin painting or food preparation unless indicated that the product is meant to be used in this way.

• Do not transfer art materials to other containers – you will lose the valuable safety information that is on the product package.

Additional procedures to follow when using products that have cautionary labeling:

• Keep products out of reach of children.

• Keep your work area clean.

• Vacuum or wet mop dust; don’t sweep it.

• Don’t put your brush, pen, etc. in your mouth.

• Keep your work area well ventilated; make sure you have a system that takes out old air and brings in new air.

• Avoid skin contact and eating these materials.  Keep materials out of your eyes and mouth.

• Use any and all protective equipment specified on the label, such as gloves, safety glasses, and masks.

• Use a mask or globes that are impermeable to whatever product you are using; the wrong type of equipment could do as much or more harm than using no equipment at all!

• Protect any cuts or open wounds by using the appropriate gloves.

• Mix and handle certain dry materials in a locally-exhausting hood or sealed box.

• Spray apply certain materials only in a locally-exhausting spray booth with filters.

• Do not mix different food-safe glazes together because the balance of ingredients in the mixed glaze will be disrupted and the resulting mixture may not be dinnerware safe.

• Carefully follow suggested disposal methods.

Procedures to follow when a product has a flammability warning:

• Do not store or use product near heat, sparks or flame.

• Do not heat above the temperature specified on the label.

• Use explosion-proof switches and an exhaust fan with an explosion-proof motor, if specified on the label.