Studio Safety Policies
In order to safeguard the health and safety of our community, Claymakers has studio safety policies. Students, instructors, staff, and studio artists are expected to adhere to them.
For a downloadable PDF of our safety policies, click here.
EMERGENCY CONTACTS
Emergencies: Call 911.
Non-Emergency Police: Call (919) 560-4600.
First Aid Kit: Mounted on the wall next to sinks in glaze area, wheel + handbuilding classrooms; another is on the shelf in the kiln area bathroom.
Eye-Flushing Kit: Mounted on the wall next to sinks in glaze area, wheel + handbuilding classrooms.
Fire Extinguishers: Located in wheel classroom next to the extruder, in the handbuilding classroom next to the raku shelf, in the flex space next to the back door, in the glaze area next to the classroom doorway, and in the kiln area doorway leading to gas kiln.
PERSONAL SAFETY
Smoking and vaping are prohibited in the building; to smoke, please visit the outermost parking lot.
Alcohol and drugs are prohibited in the building, as is working in the studio while impaired.
Be aware of your surroundings when entering and exiting the studio. At night, use the outside parking lights and leave the studio in pairs. Teachers should have a student wait in their car while they lock the gate.
GENERAL SAFETY
While many of the materials that we work with in the studio are harmless, some pose serious health risks if inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin. In a shared studio space, we rely on one another to help ensure everyone’s safety. While you might feel comfortable taking risks with your own health, remember that those risks also endanger others in the studio.
If you observe someone doing something you know to be dangerous / against our safety guidelines, offer a friendly reminder, or ask a staff member, teacher, or studio assistant for help. We recognize that understanding safety and learning safe studio practices is an ongoing process. Our goal is to keep everyone safe.
AVOIDING INHALATION HAZARDS
Avoid creating dust! Clay dust is dangerous for your health. All clay bodies contain silica, which can scar your lung tissue and cause irreversible loss of breathing capacity. It is the finest, least visible particles that can hang in the air for hours that are the most dangerous because they are the most easily breathed in. Please help us to keep the studio safe by doing everything you can to avoid creating dust.
Dos + Don’ts of Clay Dust
Dos
Wipe down work surfaces (wheels, work tables) with a wet sponge.
Clean your clay scraps off the floor.
Rinse/wash your towels and aprons weekly; wipe your shelf space down weekly.
Clean studio tools and wipe off ware boards before putting them away.
Wipe off the wedging table and cutting wire after use.
Don’ts
Dry sanding is prohibited inside the studio. Wet sanding only.
Do NOT sweep—not even once! Use a squeegee with gentle strokes to gather clay, then use a wet sponge mop.
Do not use fans or hair dryers to dry work in the studio.
AVOIDING INGESTION HAZARDS
Eating and drinking in the studio is not allowed; take food outside and always wash your hands before eating.
AVOIDING ABSORPTION HAZARDS
When working with glaze, slips, or stains, wear gloves if you have cuts or open wounds on your hands—ESPECIALLY if you are working with any of the stains/slips/glazes that are labeled “toxic.”
OTHER STUDIO HAZARDS
Wheels
Tie back long hair and avoid wearing droopy sleeves and long jewelry. Turn your wheel off when you are done working.
Kilns / Heat Guns
Please do not open, touch, or approach the kilns, unless you have been authorized by staff to do so. They can cause severe burns, shock, and even death.
Heat guns can burn you, other students, or equipment; they can also start fires. We do not provide heat guns as community tools. Your teacher can supervise you as you use one in class, if they wish.
Grinder
Get instruction from Tim before using the grinder. Take the grinder outside to use; wear eye protection and a dust mask when using. Do not grind if you are wearing loose-fitting clothing that can get caught in the grinder. Hold your pieces in a way that keeps fingers away from the grinding wheels.