Safety in the Darkroom University of Colorado Colorado Springs

1. UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO COLORADO SPRINGS Safety in the Darkroom University of Colorado Colorado Springs Department of Environmental Health and Safety www.uccs.edu/~pusafety/environmental/index.shtml

2. So why am I required to take this safety course? Live Green Whether you are an amateur or seeking to be a professional photographer – We want you to be healthy and safe

3. Chemical • Darkroom exposure to chemical agents that may lead to respiratory, allergic and nervous system disease Live Green

4. Working in the darkroom exposes you to many toxic chemicals in a short time period – continued darkroom work could potentially be hazardous to your health. Live Green

5. In order to have a safe experience, every student must know and follow safe practices. Every student should know: Live Green

6. Live Green General Safety Procedures What are the hazards – how do I protect myself What do I do if an accident occurs How do I dispose of the wastes I generate

7. General Safety Procedures Objective: to learn the basic rules to keep you safe while working in the darkroom Live Green • Eating or drinking in the darkroom is strictly forbidden! • Never drink from anything in the darkroom. • Do not sniff or taste chemicals. • Do not keep food, food container, or drinking glasses in areas with chemicals.

8. Photography Darkroom Rules to Live By: Live Green • Do not use unlabeled substances and always return items to their proper place. • Become familiar with all the inherent dangers associated with any chemicals being used. • Assume any unfamiliar chemical is hazardous. • All outside chemicals must be approved by a faculty member and a MSDS provided.

9. Photography Darkroom Rules to Live By: Live Green • Consider a mixture to be at least as hazardous as its most hazardous component. • Never combine chemicals unless explicitly instructed to do so. Follow chemical-mixing instructions precisely. • Wash your hands immediately after using chemicals and thoroughly when leaving the darkroom area.

10. Photography Darkroom Rules to Live By: Live Green • Always use tongs and/or gloves when handling photographic chemistry. • The only place that you may use bare hands is to remove prints from the water bath or to wash prints. • Developers are toxic, especially if absorbed through the skin over long periods of time. Fixers are acidic.

11. Photography Darkroom Rules to Live By: Live Green • Clean up chemical spills IMMEDIATELY. Notify the faculty member or Environmental Health and Safety if the spill is larger than a “cups” worth of liquid. • To prevent evaporation or release of toxic vapors and gases, cover all solutions when not in use. • Do not store chemicals that may react with each other in the same area.

12. Dress appropriately in the darkroom • Confine long hair and loose clothing when in the darkroom. • Never wear sandals or open toed shoes in the laboratory. • Wear appropriate protective clothing, such as gloves and safety glasses/goggles. Live Green

13. These guidelines are not designed to produce paranoia but to ensure your safety as well as those working around you. • Remember that your eyes, lungs, and skin are porous membranes and can absorb chemical vapors. • It is YOUR job to protect YOURSELF! Live Green

14. What are the hazards Objective: to learn about where to find out about the hazards involved in working with photographic chemicals This section will cover • Material Safety Data Sheets • Warning Labels • Hazards associated with common chemicals used in photographic development Live Green Note: this is the section of the quiz that most students miss – be sure to read carefully and take notes

15. What are the hazards • Most darkroom users never experience negative side effects to photographic chemistries, but there is always the risk of exposure. • Be sure to be aware of the risks outlined in this document before using the darkroom. Live Green

16. Potential for Chemical Exposure • Acute toxicity • Adverse reaction as a result of exposure to large volumes of chemistry over a short period of time • The product of unsafe handling or spillage of chemistries • Very rare Live Green

17. Potential for Chemical Exposure • Chronic toxicity • Adverse reaction as a result of repeated exposure typically to low levels of chemistry over a long period of time • Every chemical used in the darkroom has the potential to have a negative effect on your health • Preventable through proper handling of chemicals and proper use of personal protective equipment Live Green

18. Potential for Chemical Exposure 4 ways that photographic chemistry can enter your body • Eye or Skin contact and absorption • Ingestion • Inhalation of dry chemical dust/powders and/or vapors • Cross contamination to food, clothes or other non-lab materials. Live Green

19. Material Safety Data Sheets The MSDS is the first source of information regarding the chemicals used in the photographic development process. They are kept on file. In the photo lab – the MSDSs on in a notebook on the desk in the classroom Live Green

20. Material Safety Data Sheets The MSDS contains the following information. • Section I – Identity of the Chemical • Section II – Hazardous Identity/Ingredients • Section III – Physical/Chemical Characteristics • Section IV – Fire and Explosion Hazard Data • Section V – Reactivity Data • Section VI – Health Hazard Data • Section VII – Precautions for Safe Handling and Use • Section VIII – Control Measures Live Green

21. Hazard Warning Labels • Read the hazard warning label every time you handle a chemical. • The most common type of hazard label is the one developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). • You should be familiar with the meanings of the label. It is described on the next few slides. (Note: You WILL be tested on this.) Live Green

22. Hazard Warning Labels The NFPA label is divided into four quadrants. Each quadrant describes a specific hazard: Blue = health Red = flammability Yellow = reactivity White = special hazards Live Green

23. Hazard Warning Labels Numbers in the three colored quadrants indicate the degree of hazard, from 0-4: 0=Minimal Hazard 1=Slight Hazard 2=Moderate Hazard 3=Serious Hazard 4=Severe Hazard Live Green

24. Hazard Warning Labels The specific hazard in the white is abbreviated. Some of the common abbreviations are: A. OXY=Oxidizer B. ACID=Acid C. ALK=Alkali D. COR=Corrosive E. W=use no water F. The radiation symbol Live Green

25. Darkroom Process Hazards This is an overview of the potential hazards found in darkroom chemistry. A detailed listing by process step and specific chemicals is available under resources for this course. We will review the following hazards: • Inhalation of chemical vapors • Dermal contact with chemicals • Metals exposure • Mixing photochemicals Live Green

26. Inhalation of Chemical Vapors • Many photo processing chemicals have distinctive odors which can provide a warning of their presence • People’s abilities to detect odors varies – so odors alone are never a good indicator of hazardous conditions • Ventilation is necessary in all types of photography work • Have a keen awareness of what is happening while you are mixing and using chemicals • Follow the directions provided by the manufacturer • If breathing ever becomes difficult – leave the darkroom and get fresh air immediately Live Green

27. Dermal Contact with Chemicals • Always use gloves and safety glasses • Use other personal protective equipment as appropriate (e.g. aprons) • Use tongs to move prints in and between baths • Avoid wiping your face or eyes while in the darkroom • Wash hands or skin thoroughly after any contact with chemicals or when leaving the darkroom. • If you experience any skin irritation, seek medical assistance. Live Green

28. Metals Exposure • Repeated dermal contact with silver may lead to contact dermatitis or • Generalized allergic reaction to silver • Open cuts exposed to silver may acquire a permanent black coloring • Ingestion of silver, may result in a medically benign but permanent bluish-gray discoloration of the skin Live Green

29. Mixing Photochemicals • Mixing the powdered products can allow chemicals to become airborne – perform these tasks either in a vented hood or wearing an approved dust mask • Always wear gloves and safety glasses when mixing chemicals • ALWAYS ADD ACID to water – never the other way around • Clearly label all chemicals • Know where your emergency equipment is located • Check the eyewash station before starting the mixing process Live Green

30. What should I do if an accident occurs? Objective: to learn about safety equipment that can be used when an accident occurs and how to handle an accidental spill Learning about the safety equipment in the darkroom can save your life. You must know the location of all of the safety equipment and how to use it. Before you start using the darkroom, your instructor will show you where all of the safety equipment is in the darkroom and will tell you how to use the equipment. He/she will demonstrate the use of the eyewash stations. Live Green

31. What to do for chemical spills? The primary concern during a spill is protection of people – protection of property is important but is secondary Inhalation of chemistry • Remove the person to fresh air • Stay with them until you are sure they are ok • If symptoms persist, call campus police or 911 • Report the incident to your instructor Live Green

32. What to do for chemical spills? Ingestion of chemistry • Remove the person from the area • Call poison control 1-800-222-1222 • Have someone locate the MSDS for instructions • Call campus police or 911 • Report the incident to your instructor Live Green

33. What to do for chemical spills? Chemical Splash Into Eyes • Immediately flush for 15 minutes with cold water at an eye wash station • Always remove and dispose of contacts immediately after contamination • Call campus police or 911 • Seek medical treatment • Report the incident to your instructor Live Green

34. What to do for chemical spills? Chemical Splash Onto Skin • Immediately flush for 15 minutes with cold water • Seek medical attention if symptoms develop (rash or hives are typical symptoms) • Call campus police or 911 if additional assistance is needed • Report the incident to your instructor Live Green

35. What to do for chemical spills? If a chemical has spilled on the bench top, the floor, but not on a person, do the following: • Contact the faculty member and report the content of the spill. • Do not try to clean up the spill yourself unless you have specific instructions from qualified personnel and are comfortable executing their instructions. • Evacuate all non-essential personnel from the area. • Neutralize any acid spills using a buffering agent prior to cleaning up with inert or other non-reactive adsorbents; use acid spill kits for small to medium size spills. • Use a damp towel or sponge to clean up spills of dusts and powders. • Be sure to always use personal protective equipment when cleaning up spills. • Properly dispose of spill clean-up materials • Replenish your spill clean-up supplies Live Green

36. What to do for chemical spills? No matter how small, Accidents must be reported Live Green

37. How do I dispose of the waste I generate Objective: to learn the proper way to safely dispose of spent chemicals utilized in the darkroom process You finish your work in a darkroom and, you probably wonder whether there are regulations that pertain to pouring chemicals down the drain. These chemicals can impact the environment if their waste is not managed properly. Live Green

38. How do I dispose of the waste I generate A typical darkroom and/or photographic lab can potentially generate hazardous waste as a result of the photograph development process. Live Green

39. How do I dispose of the waste I generate The federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the implementing federal regulations at 40 CFR Parts 260-272 govern hazardous waste management Live Green

40. How do I dispose of the waste I generate The overall intent of RCRA is to manage hazardous waste from generation to ultimate disposal. “cradle to grave” Live Green

41. How do I dispose of the waste I generate UCCS generates, stores and sends off site for disposal one or more of the following hazardous materials/wastes: • Developers (hydroquinone and sodium sulfite) • Stop baths (acetic acid or similar) • Fixers (sodium thiosulfate, sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, potassium aluminum, boric acid, silver) • Hypo eliminators (ammonia and iodine) • Intensifiers (mercuric chloride, mercuric iodide, potassium cyanide) • Reducers (alkali cyanide salts and carbon tetrachloride) • Toners (gold, selenium, uranium, lead or similar metal) Live Green

42. How do I dispose of the waste I generate The most common byproduct of this process that can become a hazardous waste is "spent fixer" which is regulated by state and federal hazardous waste regulations “spent fixer” contains silver at concentrations that would make the material meet the definition of hazardous waste Live Green

43. How do I dispose of the waste I generate The photo lab collects “spent fixer” in a drum. When the drum is full, Environmental Health & Safety takes care of arranging for disposal of the “spent fixer” as a hazardous waste NO other materials should be placed in the “spent fixer” waste drum Live Green

44. How do I dispose of the waste I generate • Unusedtoners, fixers, reducers, developers, intensifiers and stop bath liquid should not be poured down the drain • These often have to be treated as hazardous waste due to their corrosive nature Live Green

45. How do I dispose of the waste I generate • Under UCCS’s current industrial waste water discharge permit – spent developer and the water based stop baths may be poured down the drain • If in doubt ask your instructor Live Green

46. How do I dispose of the waste I generate • Students should ask instructions about the proper disposal procedures • Instructors will have received guidance from Environmental Health & Safety on the proper disposal procedure for each photochemical and or empty container Live Green

47. Summary During this training you should have learned: • General Safety Procedures • What are the hazards – how do I protect myself • What do I do if an accident occurs • How do I dispose of the wastes I generate Live Green

48. Summary The information presented here is intended to help you to protect your health while you enjoy your art. We want you to be safe & healthy. If you have questions, contact Environmental Health & Safety 255-3201 or 255-3212 Live Green

49. Summary You are now ready to take the quiz. Be sure to review any areas that you do not fully understand or remember. Live Green