UrbanGlass Studio Rules and Safety

2008 STUDIO RULES: HEALTH & SAFETY RULES & GUIDELINES

All persons wishing to work in the UrbanGlass studio must agree to abide by the UrbanGlass Health and Safety policy. Failure to do so may result in the loss of studio access privileges.

GENERAL RULES

• All persons working in the studio must sign in at the front desk before commencing work and sign out on leaving the studio.
• First time studio users of UrbanGlass must complete and sign a registration form and receive written approval from the Director of Operations or Head Technician before being allowed to rent time in any area of the studio.
• No one under 15 years old will be allowed to register, enroll in a class or book time in any area of the studio without a signed parent/guardian release of liability.
• Age requirements:
  Under 12 = May not participate in most studio activities
  12-14 = Must be accompanied by a parent/guardian to participate in studio activities
  15-18 = Must have a signed parent/guardian release of liability to participate in studio activities
  Over 18 = No special restrictions

ATTIRE

• The correct eye protection is required when working in any area of the studio, with glass or assisting others. After two requests to wear protective glasses, users will, on the third time, have their scheduled time or class participation terminated. Shade 2.0 or 2.5 is recommended for the hot shop.
• The named renter and/or teacher in any area of the studio is responsible for making sure their assistants and/or students wear the correct eye protection.
• Hearing protection is recommended for certain areas of the studio, e.g. the cold shop.
• Appropriate clothing should be worn at all times when working in any area of the studio, e.g. no flammable fabrics such as polyester or rayon in the hot shop.
• Appropriate footwear is required when working in any area of the studio; shoes must have closed toes and backs.
• If you have long hair you must tie it back when working in any area of the studio.

SAFETY & SECURITY

• In the event of a fire, please leave the building immediately through the nearest available exit and report to the technician at the designated safety zone outside the building. Please familiarize yourself with the posted maps.
• All accidents, no matter how minor, should be reported immediately to the Director of Operations or Studio Technician and the Accident Report Form completed.
• The use of personal music systems and/or headsets (e.g. ipods) is not permitted when working on any machines.
• Music is allowed in the studio only by permission of the staff and all studio users.
• Any broken and/or defective equipment should be reported immediately to the studio tech, or reported in the equipment repair book located outside the tech office. Repairs should not be attempted unless authorized by the Director of Operations.
• Do not leave valuables unattended. UrbanGlass is not responsible for theft or damage to personal articles or work left in the facility.
• For security reasons, do not unlock or prop open any door other than the main studio entrance.
• Due to New York City Fire Department Regulations, only 1-lb non-refillable propane tanks, which are recyclable, are allowed in the studio. Please see our Propane Recycling program description or ask the Head Technician.
• No toxic chemicals are allowed in the studio. For clarification of toxic materials please see Director of Operations or Head Technician.
• Smoking is not allowed in any area of the UrbanGlass studio.
• No pets are allowed in the UrbanGlass studio.

CONDUCT

• Due consideration should be shown for individual welfare and for the welfare of others when working.
• Workspaces should be kept clean and tidy during working. On completion of projects or classes there is a mandatory clean up.
• Access to any area of the UrbanGlass studio will be denied to anyone under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
• Abusive or violent behavior will not be tolerated and UrbanGlass reserves the right to cancel the participation of any individual in any program including renters who are considered to be a danger or exhibit unacceptable behavior.

CLEANING

• You must clean your work area when you are finished. This applies to all areas used. There will be no materials, supplies, or work left out over night in any space other than your personal locker. Any work, materials, or supplies will be removed in the morning by the UrbanGlass staff.
• Cleaning must be completed during your time slot. If your work station is not clean when you start, notify the tech.
• Individual shelves, table tops and tops rental lockers should be kept clean and tidy.
• Cleaning includes removing your work in a timely fashion. There is a First Thursday Clean Up, when every first Thursday ALL work and supplies must be removed from any and all open shelves. This includes the table tops of your rental lockers.

HOT SHOP

• The wearing of suitable hot shop eye protection is a requirement at all times when working with hot glass. Shade 2.0 or 2.5 is recommended. Prescription eyewear qualifies. After two requests to wear protective glasses, users will, on the third time, have their scheduled time or class participation terminated.
• All work unloaded from annealers will be placed on the hot shop shelves. All work must be removed from the shelves within three days of your blow slot. Remaining work will be donated to the second sale or recycled.
• When working in the hot shop clothing should be of natural fibers.
• No wax is allowed on the marvers. Tools with wax on them must not be placed on the marvers.
• All powdered glass must be in sealed containers and no open air sifting of powders is allowed.
• Cleaning in the hot shop includes: emptying water buckets, pipe break off, (please recycle clear into recycling container - DO NOT empty hot glass into any other dumpster except "glass only" dumpster) returning tools and equipment to proper areas.
• The job of modifying any hot shop controller or computer is the responsibility of the UrbanGlass staff unless otherwise authorized in writing.

COLD SHOP

• The UrbanGlass Director of Operations or his designated substitute must certify each individual (unless enrolled in a specific cold working class) on each piece of equipment in the cold shop prior to its use.
• Do not use any equipment you have not been certified on.
• The cold shop is noisy; hearing protection is recommended at all times.
• It is strongly recommended that dust masks be worn when using certain cold working equipment or materials, e.g. pumice and/or cerium.
• Dust masks must be worn when undertaking sandblasting.
• When you are finished, you are responsible for cleaning the cold shop machines and mopping the floor around the equipment that you used as well as counter and table tops. The cold shop machines must be turned off 30 minutes prior to the studio closing to allow for a clean-up by renters.

GLASS/KILNFORMING/MOLDMAKING AREA

• The wearing of suitable eye protection is a requirement at all times when cutting or working with glass.
• The wearing of dust masks is a requirement when undertaking mold making, shelf preparation, working with fine frit, powdered glass or enamels or glass painting.
• Do not leave hot wax unattended.
• Do not dump anything that is not water soluble into any studio sink.
• Do not dump plaster or silica into any studio sink. Rinse all plaster silica into plaster tub next to sink.
• Do not place anything on top of the kilns.
• The job of modifying any kiln controller or computer is the responsibility of the UrbanGlass staff unless otherwise authorized in writing.

LAMPWORKING STUDIO

• The wearing of suitable eye protection is a requirement at all times when working with a torch. Didymium glasses are recommended. Prescription eyewear qualifies.