Darkroom cont

2. PRECAUTIONS IN THE DARKROOM

4. DARKROOM SAFETY
• It is officially estimated that 15,000
workers are killed in the U.S. In on
the job accidents each year. An
additional 100,000 die from chronic
disease.
• Foe example, while it is estimated
that one out of three form of cancer,
chemical and lab workers will have a
25% greater rate.
• In a particular phptographic lab
workerd,darkroom hobbyists and
the public are exposed to a variety
of pontetially harmful photographic
chemicals on a regular basis.

5. THREATS TO DARKROOM WORKERS
• Darkroom workers,especially
hobbyists,normally receive no training
in the proper use of chemicals.
• Many photographers think that since
most photo chemicals are diluted
before use that the danger is low.
• Contact with high levels of some photo
chemicals can lead acute problems
such as
Burns,dermatitis,dizziness,vomitting,as
phyxiation and entral nervous system
failure. long- term,low-level exposure
can result in chronic problems such as
allergic
reactions,headeaches,depression,lung
ailments and cancer.

6. THREATS TO DARKROOM WORKERS
• The greatest danger to darkroom workers and hobbyists is through the
inhalation of powders or vapours.
• Absorption through the skin is also easy if the photographer routinely
handles Chemical-covered films or prints. Chemicals can also be
ingested from eating or drinking vapor-contaminated food inside the
darkroom.
• Many shutterbugs spend incredibly long hours in their darkrooms which
are often cramped makeshift quarters at home-- in closets,bathrooms or
kitchen counters.These darkrooms provide no safety equipment such as
ventilation systems,showers,eye washes or fire extinguishers. Adequate
measurements is expensive and time-consuming so it is often ignored.

7. THREATS TO DARKROOM WORKERS CONT
• Those seeking out information about
saftety issues in the darkroom will be
dissapointed. The lack of information
is another reason why so many
believe that the darkroom poses no
danger.
• What is “adequate” ventilation?.
How damaging is “hazardous”
Most darkroom workers seem to rely
on the rule of thumb “If i can tolerate
the odor, the ventilation is
adequate”. But there are dangers
from inoffensive chemicals that
aren’t offensive:what you can’t smell
CAN hurt you!

8. SOLUTIONS
• The types of problems caused by photo chemicals are
many and therefore require different solutions.
• INFORMATION:
Although few books are currently available, some older
books are dealing with hazards in the darkroom are
available through larger libraries and used book stores.
some of the periodicals that focus on the darkroom
provide the latest information on new chemials,equipment
and techniques.
• Buy a copy of a non-technical book on general chemical
safety. Keep it handy and refer to it often.
• Obtain the Material safety data sheets from the
manufacturers on the chemicals that they use in thier
products.Chemical companies are required to make these
available to the user
• Get government information on recommended exposure
levels to various chemicals.

9. OUTSIDE THE DARKROOM
• Do not buy chemicals (or kits that contain chemicals) that you feel are
unsafe.Check out the ingeredients and thier safety before you buy.
• Only buy kits that are willing to give a listing of thier ingredients on
the box--If you dont know what’s in it you cant decide its safe for you
to use
• Support manufacturers that go to the trouble and expense of
providing safer chemicals. Write to them thanking them for the safe
chemicals that they use.Tell your friends about thier products.
• Consider mixing your own chemicals

10. PHYSICAL SAFETY
• Use the brightest safelights possible
for both black and white and colour
work. This will help prevents
accidents.
• Wear protective eye gear, gloves and
an apron, whenever working with
chemicals.
• Have water available in the darkroom
to wash away chemical spills as soon
as they happpen.
• Install ground fault circuit breakers on
all electrical outlets.These help
prevent shock and eletrocution. Test
them each time you plan to work in
the darkroom. Place electrical cards
away from the areas where you may
trip on them.

12. CHEMICAL SAFETY:
• Chemical manufactuers usually
provide instructions for the use of
their product. select and use
chemicals that offer replenishers;
they’ll keep your used chemicals in
good condition.
• Use tubes instead of trays for all
processing . Tubes have several
advantages. Tubes also reduce the
exposure to chemical fumes and
forces you to keep your fingers out
of chemicals.

13. VENTILATION
• Have a ventilation system that offers:
i) a light-tight ventilation
ii) pressurized intake to keep dust
down
ii) Exhaust vents placed to draw fumes
away from the worker.
• Make sure that your fan(s) can
exchange the darkroom air at least
every five minutes. Depending on the
chemicals that are used in the
darkroom, a higher level of air
exchange may be more appropriate.

14. REPLACE, REDUCE,REUSE,RECYCLE,REVISE
• First, REPLACE any harzardous substances with non-
hazardous or less harzardous substances, if available.
• Next, use tube processsing to REDUCE the amount of
chemical that you use . Do not premix chemicals; ,mix
only what you need for one session
• REUSE any chemical to exhaustion
• After use, RECYCLE your chemicals if possible.
• Next, REVISE the chemicals that you are about to
dispose. Neutralize acids and bases. Change chemicals
into other less toxic substances through chemical
actions.
• Finally,dispose of any leftovers by diluting the
chemicals with water into the sewage system. Any
solvents should be safely contained for later local
hazardous waste disposal.
• If you have set up a digital darkroom, make sure you
recycle the ink cartridges.

15. THREATS TO THE ENVIRONMENT
• Chemical threats to the workers or hobbyist largely end when
the chemicals are discarded; threats to the environments
begin at that point. Photographic chemicals enter the
environment through a variety of routes. The most frequent
vehicle is the disposal of used chemicals into waste water.
Intentional and unintentional venting of vapours into the
atmosphere also occurs, Proper methods for disposal of
chemcials are rarely covered in photo darkroom
books,classes or chemical packages. When it is mentioned, it
is typically suggested that the chemicals be dumped down the
drain with plenty of water. This practice reduces damage to
pipes and sewage systems,nut the same total amount of
chemical is disposed.
• Chemical treatment is often nothing more tham dilution by
adding water. In the end just as in the home darkroom,the
chemiclas from most labs are dumped into the sewage
systems and are enventually “treated” at a sewage treatment
facility, usually through sedimentation and bacterail action.
since the chemicals in the sewage limit its potential for
beneficial use,such as for fertilizer,it tends to end up in
landfills or dumped into the oceans.