Table of Contents » Chapter 5 : Studio » Chapter 5 : OSHA

Chapter 5 : OSHA

“This is not ok” – OSHA

Keeping your studio safe for you and your employees

If you have a small business with at least one employee, and you are interested in making sure that your studio is a safe working environment, you may ask OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) to come into your studio for an on-site consultation.

OSHA-Occupational Safety and Health Administration
osha.gov

OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Service offers free and confidential advice to small and medium-sized businesses in all states across the country, with priority given to high-hazard, work sites.

  • Consultation services are totally separate from enforcement and do not result in penalties or citations.
  • To qualify, you must have a small business that has at least one employee in addition to you.
  • You must agree to actively work toward fulfilling the recommendations that they make regarding your studio.
  • Without an employee OSHA will not come into your studio, they are a regulatory group designed to protect employees.

Common Sense Guidelines

(Ensuring a safe studio space)

  • Sweep and mop regularly-to keep the dust down.
  • Label all raw materials well. Know what is both toxic for you and what is hazardous for the environment.
  • Vent your kilns properly to the outside air.
  • Wear your dust mask while mixing glazes, making clay, spraying glazes/slips and while sweeping.