Safety Tips

Yigal Sharaby

<div class="jnlc-container" id="jnlc-container"> <img src="http://static2.shopify.com/s/files/1/0014/5692/files/Safety.jpg" width="360" height="200" class="floatLeft" /> Safety Tips 1. Have a well-lit area, using multiple, non-glare sources. 2. Have the workspace planned out for efficient, safe and organized production. 3. Make sure your equipment is checked and maintained on a daily basis. 4. Make sure your workspace is electrically sound and modernized because an electrical fire will be a disaster. Only use licensed electricians, no handymen, friends or other non-licensed professionals. If you have any questions as to the safety of electrical outlets or wattages, call an inspector from your local fire department. 5. Keep a low-dust atmosphere and have excellent ventilation. 6. Avoid all procedures involving solvents, whenever possible. Have ventilation at every workstation in the investing or melting areas. Use work clothing, and clean it frequently. Use personal safety equipment such as earmuffs, shoe covers to protect against molten metal splashes, and safety goggles. 7. Install ergonomically sound work stations so that workers are not physically stressed or hurt. 8. Make safety a habit and then it won't seem like a job. 9. Substitute the least hazardous procedure when you have a choice. 10. Learn from mistakes or close calls. When an accident occurs, it needs to be recorded in an accident book and discussed and remedied, in order to avoid repetition. 11. The most hazardous dust particles are completely invisible and are fibrous or jagged, and lodge themselves between the air sacs in human lungs. These particles are responsible for emphysema, lung cancer and death, when workers are unprotected. Asbestos, cotton and silica are the worst culprits of doom. 12. The most effective ventilation is localized, which means utilizing a device that sucks out the bad air. It is best to have a device, slot or tube close to the working area that is the source of the pollution that is generating the dust, mist or fumes. The bad fumes will be sucked away as they are produced and thus, removed entirely from the workshop. 13. Should you be using a respirator, make sure it fits your face and is the proper type for the dusts, chemicals and fumes you are protecting yourself against. 14. Eye protection in the workshop usually consists of using safety glasses and/or a face shield. Polycarbonate glasses are good. Goggles protect the eyes from sharp objects, flying chunks, dust, chemicals, fumes, liquids and hot metal splashes. Metal Safety Information Goldsmiths work with metals and safety issues can arise. It is crucial to know that the body reacts to metals, metallic dust, salts and oxides and there are ways to protect against adverse effects. Jewelers work with all types of metals and alloys, and again, safety must be an intrinsic concern in the workplace. When turning gold, copper, silver, zinc, iron, steel, platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, titanium, niobium and aluminum into beautiful objects, the golden rule of safety is primary. Dangerous metals that shouldn't be allowed in the modern day workshop, but still are, include: nickel, lead, mercury, chromium, selenium, cadmium, arsenic, antimony, manganese and beryllium. Additional precautions must be taken if these highly toxic metals are in your workplace. Jewelers work both with pure metals and with alloys, which are a combination of more than one metal. For instance, brass is an alloy of 65% copper and 35% zinc. Metallic compounds which are often salts or oxides, are another component that a jeweler comes in constant contact with. Salts and oxides are found in patinas, cleaning solutions, pickling solutions, and enamels. These compounds are also by-products of heating or chemical reactions that occur on a daily basis in the course of running a jewelry business. Heating metals in soldering, annealing or melting, accelerates chemical and physical reactions that are different from room temperature reactions. It's important to note that not all metals are harmful to the human body. Our bodies contain small amounts of trace metals. These metals have safe concentration levels that should not be exceeded nor diminished. Science is fascinating in that exposure to multiple metals can result in interactions between them. It's similar to the adverse effects of combining certain pharmaceutical drugs or drinking alcohol and taking medications. When cadmium and zinc are combined, the body loses calcium and this can have a deleterious effect upon the nervous system. Metal toxicity among jewelers can be a professional hazard because many jewelers smoke, eat and drink where toxic metals are used. Metals are tricky and can leach important chemicals from the body by interfering with absorption. Selenium, an important element required by the body, can be blocked when workers use antimony, aluminum, palladium, gold and silver. Metals have the tendency to build up in the body after years of exposure. Build-up is hazardous to workers with pre-existing medical conditions and the dire results can take a lifetime of metal proximity to reveal themselves. Metal exposure comes through the skin, or by breathing or ingesting metallic oxides, salts and dust. Metallic fumes, which result from heating metals at high temperatures, can cause serious damage and metal fume fever is a real hazard with molten metals. Zinc, copper, magnesium, aluminum, copper, antimony, cadmium, iron and silver can all cause metal fume fever. Liver damage can occur when working with antimony, arsine, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, manganese, selenium, and indium. Indium can also damage the kidneys and irritate and permanently damage the lungs. Pregnant women should not work around these metals because the fetus can be affected. People can become allergic to their jewelry. Cosmetics also effect the reactions of metals upon the skin. Studies have been done with metal-intolerant patient whereby they were patch-tested with nickel sulfate and wore metal washers as a neckpiece. Results showed that 63% reacted to nickel sulfate patch test, 50% reacted to the nickel washer, 8% to the nickel-palladium washer, 13% to the copper washer, 7% to the brass washer, 4% to the bronze or palladium washers, 2% to gold and none to iron. It appears that iron might be the best material for jewelry in terms of metallic tolerance, but fashion hasn't taken this knowledge to the marketplace, as yet. The most dangerous metals, alloys and salts contain cadmium, nickel, chromium, antimony, arsenic, and beryllium. <a href="/pages/other-techniques"><img src='http://static1.shopify.com/s/files/1/0014/5692/files/Back1.png' alt='' /></a> </div>

2008-10-13T13:16:44-04:00

safety-tips 500092

2008-10-13T13:16:44-04:00

145692

Safety Tips 2008-11-04T12:39:34-05:00 <notextile> <div class="jnlc-container" id="jnlc-container"> <img src="http://static2.shopify.com/s/files/1/0014/5692/files/Safety.jpg" width="360" height="200" class="floatLeft" /> Safety Tips 1. Have a well-lit area, using multiple, non-glare sources. 2. Have the workspace planned out for efficient, safe and organized production. 3. Make sure your equipment is checked and maintained on a daily basis. 4. Make sure your workspace is electrically sound and modernized because an electrical fire will be a disaster. Only use licensed electricians, no handymen, friends or other non-licensed professionals. If you have any questions as to the safety of electrical outlets or wattages, call an inspector from your local fire department. 5. Keep a low-dust atmosphere and have excellent ventilation. 6. Avoid all procedures involving solvents, whenever possible. Have ventilation at every workstation in the investing or melting areas. Use work clothing, and clean it frequently. Use personal safety equipment such as earmuffs, shoe covers to protect against molten metal splashes, and safety goggles. 7. Install ergonomically sound work stations so that workers are not physically stressed or hurt. 8. Make safety a habit and then it won't seem like a job. 9. Substitute the least hazardous procedure when you have a choice. 10. Learn from mistakes or close calls. When an accident occurs, it needs to be recorded in an accident book and discussed and remedied, in order to avoid repetition. 11. The most hazardous dust particles are completely invisible and are fibrous or jagged, and lodge themselves between the air sacs in human lungs. These particles are responsible for emphysema, lung cancer and death, when workers are unprotected. Asbestos, cotton and silica are the worst culprits of doom. 12. The most effective ventilation is localized, which means utilizing a device that sucks out the bad air. It is best to have a device, slot or tube close to the working area that is the source of the pollution that is generating the dust, mist or fumes. The bad fumes will be sucked away as they are produced and thus, removed entirely from the workshop. 13. Should you be using a respirator, make sure it fits your face and is the proper type for the dusts, chemicals and fumes you are protecting yourself against. 14. Eye protection in the workshop usually consists of using safety glasses and/or a face shield. Polycarbonate glasses are good. Goggles protect the eyes from sharp objects, flying chunks, dust, chemicals, fumes, liquids and hot metal splashes. Metal Safety Information Goldsmiths work with metals and safety issues can arise. It is crucial to know that the body reacts to metals, metallic dust, salts and oxides and there are ways to protect against adverse effects. Jewelers work with all types of metals and alloys, and again, safety must be an intrinsic concern in the workplace. When turning gold, copper, silver, zinc, iron, steel, platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, titanium, niobium and aluminum into beautiful objects, the golden rule of safety is primary. Dangerous metals that shouldn't be allowed in the modern day workshop, but still are, include: nickel, lead, mercury, chromium, selenium, cadmium, arsenic, antimony, manganese and beryllium. Additional precautions must be taken if these highly toxic metals are in your workplace. Jewelers work both with pure metals and with alloys, which are a combination of more than one metal. For instance, brass is an alloy of 65% copper and 35% zinc. Metallic compounds which are often salts or oxides, are another component that a jeweler comes in constant contact with. Salts and oxides are found in patinas, cleaning solutions, pickling solutions, and enamels. These compounds are also by-products of heating or chemical reactions that occur on a daily basis in the course of running a jewelry business. Heating metals in soldering, annealing or melting, accelerates chemical and physical reactions that are different from room temperature reactions. It's important to note that not all metals are harmful to the human body. Our bodies contain small amounts of trace metals. These metals have safe concentration levels that should not be exceeded nor diminished. Science is fascinating in that exposure to multiple metals can result in interactions between them. It's similar to the adverse effects of combining certain pharmaceutical drugs or drinking alcohol and taking medications. When cadmium and zinc are combined, the body loses calcium and this can have a deleterious effect upon the nervous system. Metal toxicity among jewelers can be a professional hazard because many jewelers smoke, eat and drink where toxic metals are used. Metals are tricky and can leach important chemicals from the body by interfering with absorption. Selenium, an important element required by the body, can be blocked when workers use antimony, aluminum, palladium, gold and silver. Metals have the tendency to build up in the body after years of exposure. Build-up is hazardous to workers with pre-existing medical conditions and the dire results can take a lifetime of metal proximity to reveal themselves. Metal exposure comes through the skin, or by breathing or ingesting metallic oxides, salts and dust. Metallic fumes, which result from heating metals at high temperatures, can cause serious damage and metal fume fever is a real hazard with molten metals. Zinc, copper, magnesium, aluminum, copper, antimony, cadmium, iron and silver can all cause metal fume fever. Liver damage can occur when working with antimony, arsine, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, manganese, selenium, and indium. Indium can also damage the kidneys and irritate and permanently damage the lungs. Pregnant women should not work around these metals because the fetus can be affected. People can become allergic to their jewelry. Cosmetics also effect the reactions of metals upon the skin. Studies have been done with metal-intolerant patient whereby they were patch-tested with nickel sulfate and wore metal washers as a neckpiece. Results showed that 63% reacted to nickel sulfate patch test, 50% reacted to the nickel washer, 8% to the nickel-palladium washer, 13% to the copper washer, 7% to the brass washer, 4% to the bronze or palladium washers, 2% to gold and none to iron. It appears that iron might be the best material for jewelry in terms of metallic tolerance, but fashion hasn't taken this knowledge to the marketplace, as yet. The most dangerous metals, alloys and salts contain cadmium, nickel, chromium, antimony, arsenic, and beryllium. <a href="/pages/other-techniques"><img src='http://static1.shopify.com/s/files/1/0014/5692/files/Back1.png' alt='' /></a> </div> </notextile>