There are various dangers associated with working as a potter but with
adequate care and a few simple precautions they should be avoided.
The problem areas fall essentially into three areas of your workshop
practice:
- the handling of raw materials
- The handling of wet materials e.g. glaze slops
- the firing of glazes
- physical problems resulting from work conditions.
- the use of fired work particularly for functional domestic pottery
that may come into contact with food.
As this is a glaze course we will confine our discussion largely to
those dangers which result from the handling firing and use of ceramic
products.
In this lesson we will look at:
- dangers from the handling of raw materials, both storage and in the
weighing out of recipes.
- health issues that can result from exposure to the fumes given off
by glazes during firing.
- how the interaction of food with some fired glazes can pose a danger
to health.
It is well to remember that many of exposures the that we will discuss
may not be a problem in the short term but are often accummulative and
can become serious health issues over a number of years.