Quartz dust danger

Press, 6 July 1983, Page 21

Quartz dust danger

Workers in some commercial potteries are at risk from exposure to quartz dust, a Health Department report has said. The report looks at occupational health in commercial potteries, hobby potteries, and intermediate school pottery classes in the South Island. The head of the depart-

ment’s occupational health branch, Dr John Stoke, said dusting and wiping cast ware were the main sources of exposure to quartz dust, but clay powder on floors could also become airborne. “Commercial potteries should install local exhaust ventilation systems in booths where dusty work is carried out,” he said. Better floor-cleaning and wearing terylene overalls would also reduce the problem. Hobby potters were not exposed to dangerous levels of quartz dust. However,

they needed to take precautions when using heavy metal glaze compounds which were sometimes toxic.

Dr Stoke also said that any earthenware with a lead-base glaze should be fired properly, otherwise lead could seep out and contaminate anything carried in the earthenware.

The report recommends using safety eye-wear to protect against infra-red radiation when viewing kilns at high temperatures.