Art Glass Association

General Safety Guidelines

• Know what you are working with: Carefully read the labels on all the materials you work with and follow the manufacturers directions for use.
• Avoid spreading contaminants:  Wash your hands and work clothes often and be aware that contaminants will cling to you and yourr clothes and can be spread to your living areas.
• Do not clean your hands with solvents: Some solvents can be absorbed through the skin directly into the bloodstream.
• Practice good housekeeping: Eliminate carpets or rugs in the shop, they trap dust and hold spills. Provide good ventilation for all fumes. Do not let dust and dirt accumulate on flat surfaces.
• Properly store all hazardous materials: Don’t store toxic materials in glass containers. Store powdered materials in airtight jars or bins.
• Have a plan for an emergency situation: In the event of a chemical splash, know what to do and where to take the person to wash the splashed area. Have the appropriate first aid supplies on hand.
• Appropriate Gear: Wear appropriate clothes/shoes and safety gear when working with hazardous chemicals or materials that can injure you.

LEAD POISONING AND SAFETY

How do I get it?

• Exposure to lead occurs primarily through the lungs and the digestive system. Once absorbed by these organs, it is transported throughout the body and deposited in bones and tissue. The body can excrete the lead but it is a very slow process and the body can not get rid of the lead as fast as the exposure can happen, thus Lead Poisoning.
• Lead came is not the most dangerous lead in your shop. You will get some lead from eating or smoking in the studio while you are working with lead came. The real danger comes from lead dust created by sanding or polishing came with whiting or activities which create lead fumes such as soldering.
• Fumes from soldering are the most subtle and therefore the most ignored dangerous to get lead exposure. When you solder a small amount of the lead will disperse into the air as fumes which can be easily and unconsciously inhaled. The fumes settle through out the studio and can be stirred up when sweeping or just walking around the studio and breathed by the workers and in the case of a home studio your family.

What does it do to me?

• The symptoms depend on the length of time and the amount of exposure. A slow exposure over a long period can lead to kidney damage, headaches, fatigue, irritability, and sore joints. Acute lead poisoning results in the absorption of a large amount lead over a short period of time. The symptoms include flu-like illness, encephalitis, coma and death. If victims survive they can be left mentally impaired.

How can I prevent it?

• Do not eat or drink while working with any lead containing products.
• Working in the living areas can lead to exposure when the artist is not actively working and exposing other family members.
• Design your work bench area near a window or with a fan at work level to keep air moving across the work pulling the fumes from your face. The fan will also keep you from breathing the zinc chloride fumes.
• Don’t sweep your floors or benches. Use a wet mop or rags to clean the dust in the work area. In an analysis made of the floor dust in a stained glass studio, the dust was found to contain 1 percent lead.
• After handling lead came and solder, hands should be washed immediately.
• Children should never be allowed in the room while working with lead.
• Prevention is the major treatment!

Guidelines For Soldering Safety

• First of all you will be working with a very hot soldering iron, that is guaranteed to fry your fingers if you pick it up by the wrong end, so don't. One good way to avoid this is to use a soldering iron stand, available from your local retailer.
• Most fluxes contain zinc chloride that is harmful to the skin and eyes, and toxic if ingested. Read the labels on all chemicals you use for safety precautions. Flux also produces fumes when it is heated (as in soldering) and you need to work in a well-ventilated area.
• Well-ventilated means MOVE THE AIR - DON'T JUST OPEN A WINDOW. There are small, portable fume removers made specifically for eliminating flux fumes, available through your local stained glass retailer. If you find that you are getting frequent headaches or sinus problems, you may be breathing fumes. One rule of thumb - if you can smell what you're working on, you probably need to move the air a bit more, or invest in a fume remover.
• Don't lean on your work (it's a good way to break it anyway), while you are soldering. Flux on the tender, underside of your arm will start a rash almost immediately. Take an old pair of socks (long tube socks are perfect) and cut the toes off. Wear these on your arms to protect them when you are soldering something large enough that you have to reach over it.
• Don't touch your face or any other part of your body if you have flux on your hands. If you are soldering on a piece that requires handling and manipulation, wear a cotton glove (available from most retailers) on the hand that is holding the piece. This protects you from the flux as well as the heat from freshly heated solder.

Guidelines For Solder and Lead Safety

• Solder has tin and lead in it and fumes from both are harmful. The amount of lead and tin in fumes from soldering are minimal and with the above precautions, not a concern.
• Peripheral absorption (through the skin) is also a very minor risk as long as you cover any cuts or sores with a Band-Aid. If you have any cuts on your hands (which isn't at all unlikely, considering what you've been doing) cover them with Band-Aids before working with lead in any form.
• No smoking, eating, chewing your nails (no matter how frustrated you may get), or bringing your hands in contact with your face or eyes at any time while working with lead, flux, or solder. 
• Wash your hands thoroughly when you are finished leading, or taking a break. There are products available from your retailer that are made specifically for removing lead residue from your hands.
• Do not throw lead scraps in the trash! Lead can, and should, be recycled, because it is a hazard in landfills. Lead scraps on the floor may be a curiosity to children and pets, both of whom are likely to chew on strange things, so keep it clean. Many retailers offer the service of buying back lead scrap from their customers.
• Pregnant women should consult their own physician about working with lead. Opinions vary from: "Fine, just use common sense," to: "Absolutely not!" Follow the advice of your doctor. It is also possible to have your "lead levels" checked by your doctor. Some use blood tests, others check your hair. That's right, your hair. Hair absorbs everything in your system, and if you have high lead levels, it will show up there. Again ask your doctor if you have concerns.