Art and Photography Blog technical notes: Darkroom Health and Safety

Darkroom Health and Safety

Do not place your hands in chemical trays (ask your lecturer or technician for gloves)
Wash hands with warm water and soap if splashed with chemicals
No wet trays or tongs in enlarger bays.
Always use a tray when carrying prints to reduce spillages of
Clean up any spillages
Dry hands before operating enlargers
Reports any faults to the technician or lecturer such as smashed glass
No food or drink in the darkroom
Make sure all work surfaces are clean when using enlargers and when you have finished with them
Put any bags or belongings away in the classroom or underneath the enlarger
Make sure equipment that you need is ready
Always keep chemicals away from the enlargers and electrical appliances.
Do not touch electrical equipment, enlargers, timers etc. with wet or damp hands.
Always use tongs when handling photographic chemicals, chemicals are toxic, especially if absorbed through the skin over long periods of time. Stop bath and fixers are acidic.
If you have a cut or graze on your hands, protect it with a latex glove.
Clean up your work area and anything you used at the end of the lesson.
Do not get your mobile phone out as this can ruin prints.

Art and Photography Blog technical notes