Crafting Safety


MOCHI > The Workshop > Crafting > Safety

Before we use any of our power tools, I'd like to take a moment to talk about shop safety. Be sure to read, understand, and follow all the safety rules that come with your power tools. Knowing how to use your power tools properly will greatly reduce the risk of personal injury. And remember this: there is no more important safety rule than to wear these safety glasses.

                  Norm Abrams, New Yankee Workshop

Yes, we know that this is the boring part. The problem is that it is an important part. The idea of toxins slowly building up in your liver or developing lung cancer seems remote. After all, you aren't bathing in solvents, right? But, think of it this way -- we want you to stick around so you can cosplay for a long time to come. A lot of safety measures prevent more immediate hazards like, oh, giving yourself a serious burn with a hot glue gun.

So, basic safety measures:

Keep your main area clear and well ventilated. Keeping an area clear means that you're less likely to trip over stuff (like a power cord) and that less of your stuff will be collateral damage if there's an accident. Ventilation means air flow: open doors and windows, a fan, etc. Some toxic fumes have no smell, so you won't get much warning before you hit the floor.
Wash up. Mom wasn't kidding when she told you to go wash your hands: you don't want to get some of this stuff on your food or near your face. If you're covered in dust, toss your clothes in the laundry and take a shower.
Labels are your friend. Read labels carefully and label anything that you put into containers for storage. After all, you don't want your roomate to eat that epoxy putty you put in that old yogurt container. (And, if you do want them to eat it, remember: you need to maintain plausible deniability.)
Plan for emergencies.. (Please note that "panic" is not a plan!) Have some basic first aid supplies on hand (band-aid, antiseptic ointment, burn cream, etc.) to treat minor problems. You should also have someone "on call" who can drive you to the hospital in case you get yourself into serious trouble.

As you get more serious about your crafting, get a hold of The Artist's Complete Health and Safety Guide. (We found a copy in a used bookstore. Your local library or school may also have a copy.) The first section talks about various hazards (chemical, physical, etc.) and gives guidelines on how you can protect yourself. Read this section at least once. The second section talks about raw materials, like pigments and plastics, and the third section talks about specific media, like paint, casting resins, glass, etc.

Yes, some of the stuff covered in the book is basic common sense. But it may surprise you what can be labeled "non-toxic" which can still do serious damage to your body.