Working With Clay - Health and Safety

One of the biggest health and safety concerns when working with clay, glaze, slips and plaster is dust.    
Powder residue can cause respiratory problems if used in poor conditions and without safety precautions.

Silica dust exposure and risk

Clay contains respirable crystalline silica, most of which is chemically combined with other materials. The crystalline silica that is not chemically combined is often referred to as 'free silica'.

Fine dust particles containing free silica are a major concern because they can:

> be invisible to the naked eye under normal lighting conditions.
> be airborne for long periods of time in your breathing zone.
> Breathing in silica dust may lead to a lung disease known as silicosis, this is a serious lung disease causing permanent disability and early death.
> 'Respirable' means that the dust can get to the deepest parts of the lung.

General Health and Safety - Clay Dust 

1. Use a damp sponge/cloth when cleaning surfaces, never dry brush.
2. Spillages of dry materials should be vacuumed up and not washed or wiped.