Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 13:48:38 -0400 (EDT)
From: bclark-AT-bgnet.bgsu.edu (Bradford Clark)
Subject: Re: glue


I appreciate Brian Duchscherer's informed comments.  I would also recommend
Monona Rossol's "Stage Fright: Health and Safety in the Theatre" which
deals with this and many other safety issues, both material and tool /
technology based.  Theatre artists are often hired as independent
contractors,  and it is entirely their own responsibility to work with
their materials/ technologies safely, as the contracting agency often
doesn't really care (and will not provide adequate work environments), as
long the product is produced.   Individual pamphlets on various groups of
materials (paints, glues, etc.) can be obtained from the Center for
Occupational Hazards, 5 Beekman Street, New York, NY 10038  Tel: (212)
227-6220  (I haven't dealt with them for a while -- I'm not sure this is
current).

Industrial materials are often repackaged for craft use without proper
information attached.  While theoretically the material safety sheets that
Rick refers to should always be available, one may be tempted to use new
materials before the information can be procured by your local retailer.

Theatre involves a wide range of materials that are only safe when they are
used safely.   I've heard  of cases of chemical pneumonia contracted from
spraying laquers inside a large scene shop (the union stage carpenters who
could have called a halt to it chose not to -- not manly, I suppose) and
formaldehyde poisoning (leather work in a costume shop).   Individuals
often are allergic to seemingly harmless materials -- don't assume that
everyone's sensitivites are the same.  There often is discussion of these
issues in the Stagecraft discussion group on the Net; futher information
can be found in issues of the United States Institute of Theatre
Technology's journal Theatre Design and Technology;  I recommend their
annual conference, which usual contains safety workshops (the best being
hosted by "Doctor Death", an industrial safety consultant and M.D. -- he
presents some fairly disturbing issues in a very amusing but informative
and   manner.

Bradford Clark
 Assistant Professor / Scenic Designer,  Theatre Department
322 South Hall,  Bowling Green State University,
Bowling Green, OH     43403-0236
Tel: (419) 372-7174     Fax: (419) 372-7186
e-mail: bclark-AT-bgnet.bgsu.edu




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