We have tried to minimize safety and health problems in the lab as much as possible but, in order to do so, it is important that each student using the lab develop an awareness of these issues and how to handle equipment and chemicals in such a way that no one is endangered. Please read the following carefully. All students enrolled in photo classes are required to sign and return an acknowledgment that they have read and understand safety procedures and the risks associated with the use of the photo lab.

Electricity:
Both the group and private labs have distinct divisions between the dry side and the wet side. You should have a hand towel with you while working in the lab and you should take care to dry your hands before handling the enlarger or any electrical equipment.

Chemistry:
The standard b/w chemicals in the lab are fairly weak water-based solutions. Nevertheless, you should minimize your contact with them by using tongs or rubber gloves. If developer, stop bath, fixer or hypo-clear get on your hands, you should rinse them off immediately not only to avoid print contamination but possible skin irritations. Some individuals may develop extreme allergic reactions to chemicals. Wash your hands thoroughly after a printing session. Food should not be brought into the lab because of the possibility of contamination.

The fumes from photographic chemicals can be hazardous if they accumulate in an enclosed space. In the private labs, always situate your trays so that the fixer is the tray closest to the exhaust vent and know where the exhaust vent is located. When working in the private labs, open the door frequently during the session to allow for a better exchange of air.

Certain chemicals such as toners, bleaches and chemicals used for non-silver processes can be extremely poisonous, can be absorbed through the skin, or may even cause burns if they come in contact with the skin. They should be used only with tongs or rubber gloves and their fumes should be controlled by placing a cover or tray over the tray that holds them. Read carefully the safety disclosure on any of these chemicals before use them. Toners should be used only in the toning sink with the exhaust fan slot working to minimize fumes. Minimize your exposure to organic solvents such as film cleaner and acetone, which should be used only with adequate ventilation.

Avoid all skin contact with color photographic chemicals which you should not be handling in any case since they are sealed inside the Colenta color processor.

Cleaning powders or solutions which contain chlorine, such as Clorox or Comet cleanser are not permitted in the lab. If they come in contact with acids such as fixer or stop bath, they can release deadly chlorine gas.

Other:
Keep your hands away from the dry mount press or mounting iron when they are heated. Exercise extreme caution when using mat knives or exacto blades. Spills in the lab should be mopped up immediately.

Environmental Concerns:
One thing that we can do to cut down on the pollution generated by photography is to not waste chemistry. If working in a private lab, don’t throw unexhausted chemicals down the drain. These chemicals should be placed in beakers and carried into the group darkroom where they can be added to the appropriate trays for students in that lab to use. If you are leaving chemicals for someone in a lab who will be working directly after you, make sure that you label the trays for that person. Fresh chemicals are often dumped unnecessarily when the next student to use the lab is not sure of what each tray contains.

Fixer should never be dumped down the drain. Used film-fixer should be returned to the container in the film-developing sink marked for this purpose. Used paper fixer (learn how to test the fixer with Hypo-Check) should be dumped into the silver-recovery pail in the group darkroom. Used fixer contains harmful silver compounds which are reclaimed by the silver-recovery unit installed in the lab.

Water can be conserved by using the rocking print washer in the main area only during busy times when there are many prints to be washed. If you have ten or fewer prints, wash them instead in a tray in the toning sink with a hose or siphon placed in it. After 5 minutes of hypo-clear, a small quantity of fiber-based prints needs only 15-20 minutes in such a tray for an adequate wash if the prints are shuffled periodically. RC prints should not be hypo-cleared and need only a 5-minute wash in a tray.