Guidelines for Health
and Safety Procedures with Relating to Photography.
Before Starting Work in the
Darkroom and Turning Off the Main Lights.
Make sure all work surfaces
are clean and free of debris, litter etc.
Put any bags or belongings
away from these work areas.
Remember the darkroom
is a low light, and even no light, working environment. So store coats, bags
etc. where they cannot be tripped over. Under the enlarger bench is a good
place.
Make sure that the equipment
you intend to use are clean, dry and to hand.
Turn on any extractor
fans.
Check that the enlarger
bulb is working.
Check that the chemicals
you wish to use are fresh.
Mix any chemicals you
need and place them in the correct apparatus, for example printing trays,
before turning off the main white light.
Do not take food or
drink into the darkroom.
Correct Use of Chemicals in
the Darkroom.
Always keep chemicals
away from the dry benches and electricity.
Water based chemicals
and electricity do not mix and can be lethal.
Do not touch electrical
equipment, enlargers, timers etc. with wet or damp hands.
This is one of the reasons
darkrooms are built with a dry bench area, for enlargers etc., and a wet bench
area, for chemicals, printing trays, developing tanks etc.
Do not walk around carrying
chemicals in printing trays, developing tanks etc. You can spill them and
cause the floor to become slippery.
Wear protective gloves
if possible, if not, avoid prolonged contact with photographic chemicals.
If you have sensitive skin take special care. When printing use printing tongs.
When you have finished
wash your hands.
Take care not to put
fingers in or near your mouth and do not rub your eyes.
If you get chemicals
in your eyes, via a splash or rubbing your eyes, use an eyewash and seek medical
attention. Take the chemical bottle, showing label, with you when you visit
Doctors.
If you have a cut or
a graze on your hand protect it with a waterproof plaster. After you have
finished working in the darkroom remove the plaster as it may have chemicals
on it.
When pouring chemicals
take care not to splash.
Always wipe up any spillage
right away.
Using Photographic
Lighting Equipment Safely
Always uncoil all electricity
cables, do not leave them wound on any storage spool. If you do this the coiled
cable gets hot and there is a serious risk of fire.
Tape down, using strong
' gaffer ' tape. This prevents people tripping up on loose cabling.
Always use the correct
lighting stand for the photographic lighting you are using.
Do not over reach/raise
the lighting stand, this can cause the stand to tip over.
Please remember that photographic lights, particularly tungsten,
can get very hot. Do not over balance them. If they fall onto a model, for
example, they can cause horrific burns to skin.
If they fall whilst unattended there is serious risk of fire.
If adjusting ' barn doors ' etc. ALWAYS use protective gloves.
After you have finished, allow the lighting equipment to cool down before
moving.
Always use the correct fuse's specified for the equipment you are using.
