Illustration 10

Quarter 1
SAFETY PROCEDURES WHEN
Module
HANDLING DRY DRAWING MEDIA
6

Writer: Raneth A. Yago

Editor: Ammeliza N. Vasquez
Reviewer: Janeth M. Pineda

EXPECTATIONS

After the end of the lesson, the student should be able to:

1. Describe the hazards and risks of dry drawing media to the artists' health;
2. Give importance on the proper ways of handling dry drawing media to avoid
health risks;
3. Create an art studio safety rules and regulations for handling dry drawing
media.

T E C H N I C A L VO C A T I O N A L L I V E L I H O O D
 PRETEST

TRUE OR FALSE. Read each statement carefully. Write TRUE if the statement is
correct and FALSE if it is wrong, write your answer on the space provided before
the number.

1. Dry drawing media includes dust-creating media such as graphite,

charcoal, and pastels which are often fixed with aerosol spray fixatives.

2. Chalks are usually made from carbonized willow or vine sticks

heated without moisture.

3. NIOSH-approved respirator is equipped with vapor cartridges, dust

and mists filter to help protect against inhalation of solvent vapors and particles.

4. Always spray fixative by blowing air from your mouth through a tube.

5. The Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act (LHAMA) requires any

art materials to bear warning for health hazards and material toxicity.

RECAP
Let us have a quick review of how much you have learned about the last
module where “Safety procedures when Handling Pigments” was discussed.

Identification. Identify the following terms and write your answers on the space
provided before the number.

1. They are responsible in reporting all accidents, near misses, and

potential chemical exposure to the instructor immediately.

2. Along with violet, it is a rare color that symbolizes royalty during

the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

3. In high amount, this pigment may cause skin ulceration and skin
allergies.

4. Having a habit of chewing your brush handle or fingernails while

working on an art project heightens what type of art risk?

5. Spraying and sanding techniques heightens the risk of .

 LESSON

SAFETY PROCEDURES
WHEN HANDLING DRY DRAWING MEDIA

In our last lesson, we’ve discussed art safety when handling pigments
through wet media like oil paints, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, etc. This includes
the possible health hazard these pigments may cause in large amounts.

In this lesson, we will be discussing the hazards and precautions when

handling dry drawing media.

Dry Drawing Media includes dust-creating media such as graphite,

charcoal, and pastels which are often fixed with aerosol spray fixatives and media
such as crayons and oil pastels which do not create clouds of dust.

HAZARDS:

1. Pencil cores though termed as pencil lead are not made of lead, rather they
are made with graphite and are not considered
a hazard. Colored pencil core has pigments
added to the graphite, but the amount are
little so that the risk of exposure is also low.
In the past, the only significant hazard in
pencils was from lead chromate paint on the
outside of yellow pencils. However, this has
since
been eliminated as a risk. https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pencil

2. Charcoal is usually made from carbonized willow or vine sticks, heated

without moisture to create the black
color. Compressed charcoal sticks use resins to
bind and create color. Although charcoal is
simply thought of as a nuisance dust, inhalation
of enormous amounts of dust can create chronic
respiratory problems by clogging the
airways. Charcoal inhalation is a result of
blowing
excess charcoal dust off the drawing instead of
using a dusting brush. By Mrs Scarborough - Own
work, Public Domain,
https://commons.wikimedia.
3. Colored chalks are also considered nuisance org/w/index.php?curid=2128
329
dust. Some chalks are dustier than
others. Individuals who have asthma show
allergic reactions to chalk dust, but not the toxic kind.
 4. Pastel sticks and pencils are composed of
pigments bound with resin to have a solid
form. The major hazard of using pastel sticks is
inhalation because some pastels are dustier
than the others. Pastels may contain toxic
pigments like chrome yellow (lead chromate).
Blowing excess pastel dust off the drawing may
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pagejust
cause inhalation of pigments contained in it. in/4444705706/
Most Pastel artists often complained of blowing
different colors from their nose after using pastels, a clear indication of
pigment inhalation.

5. Crayons and oil pastels do not present an inhalation hazard, and thus are
much safer than pastels. Its only hazard is accidental ingestion.

6. Both permanent and workable spray fixatives used to fix

drawings on paper or canvas to prevent smudging contains
toxic solvents. Inhalation of the product is high because it is
sprayed directly on the drawing table or easel. This product may
contain toxic materials that are carcinogenic or can obstruct
breathing.

7. Never try to spray fixative by blowing air from your mouth

through a tube. You might accidentally swallow the contents.

PRECAUTIONS:

1. Use the dustless variety of pastels, chalks, etc. Asthmatics might want to
switch to oil pastels or a similar non-dusty media. They can also use a face
mask to prevent accidental inhalation of materials.

2. Spray fixatives are ought to be used in a spray area

that exhausts to the outside but if exhaust fans are
not available in the studio, it is advised to do the
fixing outdoors with a NIOSH (National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health)-approved respirator
equipped with vapor cartridges, dust and mists filter
for protection against the inhalation of solvent
vapors and particles. https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/NIOSH_air_filtration
3. Excess pastels and charcoals should not be blown
_rating#/media/File:P100
manually with your mouth. Instead, tap the built-up _ovm_respirator.jpg
dust so it falls on the floor. Ideally, it is best to use a dusting brush to
remove excess build-ups.

4. Use a wet mop or wet-wipes to clean all surfaces from dust.

 5. If the accidental inhalation of dust becomes a problem, a respirator may be
needed.

International Art Regulations

With all identified health hazards about art and craft materials, a lot of artists
are switching to less toxic materials or find media made from organic materials,
usually the water-based types.

The Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act (LHAMA) requires any art
materials to bear warning for health hazards and material toxicity. All these
materials were reviewed by expert Board Certified Toxicologist.

To assure the materials that you’re buying is safe, look for the “conforms to
ASTM D-4236 certification” which means that all potentially hazardous
compounds of the art materials have been clearly labeled under the LHAMA

standard.

Aside from the LHAMA certification, you can also search for the CE EN71 toys
certification European standard specifying safety requirements for toys. The EN 71
has thirteen (13) parts:
1. EN 71-1: Mechanical and physical properties
2. EN 71-2: Flammability
3. EN 71-3: Specification for migration of certain elements (chemical testing)
4. EN 71-4: Experimental sets for chemistry and related activities
5. EN 71-5: Chemical toys (sets) other than experimental sets
6. EN 71-6: Graphical symbols for age warning labeling
7. EN 71-7: Finger paints
8. EN 71-8: Swings, slides and similar activity toys for indoor and outdoor
family domestic use
9. EN 71-9: Organic chemical compounds – Requirement
10. EN 71-10: Organic chemical compounds – Sample preparation and
extraction
11. EN 71-11: Organic chemical compounds – Methods of analysis
12. EN 71-12: N-nitrosamines and N-Nitrosatable Substances
13. EN 71-13: Olfactory board games, cosmetic kits,
and gustative games
These parts apply to certain products depending on
their nature. Most suppliers test parts 1, 2, and 3- the most
important part of EN71.