A health hazard assessment in school arts and crafts

Unlike the cautious attitude being exercised toward generic chemicals, an off-guard behavior is often observed toward the same chemicals once they are recognized as a "common daily item." Students and instructors of arts and crafts classes alike are often unaware of the potential risks from exposure to some of the arts and crafts materials they use due to either the false security of "common daily item" or the lack of specific knowledge of the hazardous ingredients in those products. This unawareness of potential health hazards could lead to improper handling of these materials and result in unnecessary health risk during their use. A three-year study of college arts and crafts class students indicates a high incidence of allergic reactions among attending students for exposure of less than 70 hours within a period of 7 weeks. A self-evaluation method is developed to identify and minimize these health hazards associated with arts and crafts classes. This checklist of 15 pertinent parameters covers identifiable hazardous areas and situations in arts and crafts classrooms. Record keeping and promotion of student awareness are also addressed, so that instructors and students in an arts and crafts class can more readily recognize actual or potential hazards and act to prevent them.