Pottery and ceramics

Understand your raw materials

• Check the Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) available from your suppliers to find out how much and what forms of crystalline silica they contain. These are also often available online. 

Use work methods to minimise the dust

• Never ‘dry-sand’ or fettle any clay body. Incorporate good finishing practices into wet/leather-hard clay bodies to prevent the need to dry fettle.
• Use a damp sponge to smooth/refine greenware when needed.
• If needed, use wet/dry silicon carbide sandpaper sheets, soaked in water on dampened bisque ware.
• Avoid sweeping up dry clay. Use wet mopping or an H-class industrial vacuum cleaner to clean floors, walls and other surfaces. Studio floors can also be hosed down with low pressure water spray, and when dry, vacuumed with a H-class vacuum cleaner.
• Use a dust extraction spray booth when spraying glazes.
• Add dry materials to water when mixing glazes or clay/slip bodies to limit airborne dust. This is called slaking down.
• Do not leave dried clay or broken pots sitting around uncovered. Place all fragments in a bucket and cover with water and a lid.
• Avoid using heating or cooling fans that may disturb dust.

Wear suitable personal protective equipment

• Respirators and/or P2-grade disposable masks are essential to prevent inhalation of airborne dust.
• Ensure face masks and respirators fit correctly. Beards and facial hair inhibit correct fitting. Training on the correct fitting of respirators and face masks is available from suppliers.
• Always wear clean, protective clothing and take care to prevent silica dust contaminating your clothing.
• Wear an apron, preferably plastic which can be wiped down frequently. 

Decontaminate tools, workspaces and clothing

• Wash tools and clean all wheel and table surfaces after each use.
• Fabrics/towels should be soaked after use in a bucket of water and rinsed to remove particles before putting through the washing machine.
• After cleaning contaminated fabrics, washing machines should be put through a rinse cycle prior to laundering of personal clothing.
• In a home studio it is important to have a dedicated working space to prevent the transmission of dust to living areas. 

Note: teachers in schools and kindergartens should never allow the reuse of clay-covered art smocks. Clean smocks should be provided for each student every session. Prevent face painting with clay.