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Glassblowing Studio Safety Rules

While SOME "rules are meant to be broken" (a phrase which appears in google no less than 36,500 times)
THESE GLASSBLOWING RULES ARE *NOT* TO BE BROKEN.

Glassblowing is inherently a dangerous activity! I remember Ed Schmid's book says "You WILL get burned." It is a fact of being around so much intensely hot equipment. These rules, created by various studios and teachers, are meant to help keep the glassblowing experience as safe as possible, but a lot depends on those around you! When you are walking behind someone, be sure to say "Keith behind you!", or something like that, to make the other folks in the studio, who may be intensely focused on their marvering, etc, aware of your position in the studio -- this is for the safety of all in the studio!

Third Degree Glass Factory in St. Louis
has created a wonderful syllabus for their beginning glassblowing class.
In just a few pages they have included all the vital introductory material
which a beginner must know to work safely in the hot shop,
and this document is well worth reading -- even for the intermediate student!
 
The Third Degree Glass syllabus includes information about these very important safety topics:
 
Third Degree Glass Factory Photo 1 Third Degree Glass Factory Photo 2 Liability Waiver
Alcohol Policy
Burns & Cuts
Unannealed Glass
Everything is Hot
Teamwork
Moving in the Studio
Drops
Steaming a Pipe
Sharing Blowpipes
Reckless Behavior/Outbursts of Anger

 
In doing a Google search for "pastorale" I found this wonderful resource for the student glassblower:
 
The 10 commandments of Art 371-001 -- Intermediate to advanced glass working by Prof. Daniel N. Marder Salisbury University - Salisbury, Maryland USA
  • Three or more unexcused absences will result in your automatic failure of this course.
  • You are required to participate in at least two blow slots per week. If you miss a slot you must find a suitable replacement for your partner. A missed slot constitutes an absence.
  • Do Not think this time is easily made up, this is not biology class, cramming doesn't work here!
  • You are required to participate in shop cleanup every week. Failure to do so will adversely affect your grade and result in loss of blowing privileges. If you are unable to participate in scheduled shop cleanup you must apply for a makeup job.
  • You are required to bag batch and sift cullet .All students will be assigned batching duties. Failure to do so will result in loss of blowing privileges and a reduced grade.
  • You are required to clean up after yourself (and others)*. If you leave a mess you will be reprimanded. 3 reprimands will result in a lower grade or makeup work failure to pay attention will result in loss of blow time. *If you find a mess clean it up, and make a note of who left it on the Studio operations sheet. Anyone leaving a blow slot is responsible for the shop condition.
  • You must turn in your key at the end of the semester to receive your grade
  • You must turn in slides an artist statement and two proposals (typed-not hand written!) in order to pass this class
  • Thou shall not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol in the 3-D area! Failure to comply will result in your dismissal from this class
  • Thou shall not make contraband in the 3-D area. Failure to comply will result in your dismissal from this class
  • Thou shall have a good time, work well safely and grow as an artist. Failure to do so will result in your having a boring unfulfilled life.

 
BUCKS COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
GLASS SHOP RULES AND SAFETY REGULATIONS
  1. Clothing: DO NOT WEAR SYNTHETIC MATERIAL OR PLASTIC FIBER (HIGHLY FLAMMABLE); COTTON AND FLANNEL ARE BEST. LONG SLEEVED SHIRTS AND LONG PANTS. DO NOT WEAR OPEN TOED FOOTWEAR OR FLIMSY SHOES, STURDY HARD SOLED SHOES ARE RECOMMENDED. DO NOT WEAR METAL EXPOSED TO THE FURNACE SUCH AS JEWELRY OR METAL BUTTONS, WATCHES, ECT.
  2. NO ONE OTHER THAN STUDENTS REGISTERED FOR THE COURSE ARE PERMITTED TO USE THE STUDIO. If someone is blowing glass in your lab who shouldn.t be there, politely inform the person that he or she is infringing on your lab time, which is limited to begin with.
  3. SAFETY GLASSES MUST BE WORN WHILE WORKING NEAR FURNACE AND BLOWING AND GRINDING AREA. Safety glasses must also be worn when cleaning pipes and when putting on the stand for heating. Also, before you place a cold pipe near the furnace, make sure no one is standing near the furnace. The intense heat of the furnace could cause glass left on the pipe to pop off, creating a possible hazard.
  4. ONLY AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ARE PERMITTED TO ADJUST STUDIO EQUIPMENT. If there are any problems, contact the studio assistant.
  5. WHILE BLOWING GLASS ALWAYS BE AWARE OF ANY PERSON IN OTHER AREAS OF THE ROOM.
    A. Do not swing a pipe in the direction of another person.
    B. Do not give the pipe a full swing no more than 90. or above shoulder height.
    C. After making a gather of glass, never raise the blowpipe higher than your head. You should always move from the furnace to the gaffers' bench with the hot glass end of the pipe angled toward the floor. ALWAYS LOOK BEFORE TURNING AROUND WITH A HOT BLOWPIPE.
    D. If you quench the glass on the end of the blowpipe to speed up the cooling of the pipe, always remember to seal the mouthpiece with your thumb to prevent boiling water from traveling up the blowpipe. IF YOU DO NOT SEAL THE PIPE WHILE QUENCHING, YOU MAY BURN YOUR HANDS OR BE SCALDED WITH FLYING BOILING WATER.
  6. EACH LAB SESSION TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE STUDIO DURING THEIR LAB SESSION. NO ONE IS ALOWED TO WORK ALONE, ANOTHER PERSON MUST BE PRESSENT AT ALL TIMES
    A. All tools and pipes must be cleaned and put away after each lab session.
    B. Sweep studio floor after each lab session. (This is extremely important for safety.)
    C. The grinding wheel is to be used during class time, unless an authorized person has individually checked you, out to use the equipment.
  7. Do not bring in colored glass of an unknown origin. Compatibility may make the piece dangerous even though it may appear to have annealed properly. Also, do not use chemicals that I do not have a .material safety data sheet. on, because you may be endangering yourself and our environment.
  8. NO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS ARE PERMITTED ON THE PREMISES.
  9. The instructor and the teaching assistant have the final say in the studio!
  10. For advanced students only. Please tape your name on your locker. You must empty the locker at the end of each term.

 
Please, I would like to add the rules of other studios and schools to this web page, for the benefit of all who may visit. Please email any documents (word processor, links to web pages, etc) to gaffer@glassblower.info
Thank you!


 
At 21:00:41 October 06 2024 displayed this glassblower.info
glassblowing web page at 173.12.39.201 last modified: December 22 2007