Health and Safety

The two links below, which I found during research, include comprehensive health and safety procedures:

COSHH regulations

Health and Safety regulations

The text below is adapted from Noreen Butt's blog (with her permission) and concerns health-and-safety procedures in photography settings.

Health and Safely in Digital Photography Risk Assessments

Risk assessments are very important to identify any potential hazards that may be encountered either on the photographer's premises or on location. There are several risk assessments the photographer should undertake in relation to his premises. These include:

•         fire precautions
•         using display screen equipment (DSE)
•         manual handling
•         control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH).

Fire precautions relate to having adequate types of fire extinguishers, which must be regularly serviced; displaying escape and emergency signage and ensuring escape routes are free from obstructions.

With the increased use of computers and digital equipment for manipulating images it is essential to consider the people who use a display screen equipment (DSE) for long periods of time. It is very important to ensure that the computer, the workstation and the working environment meet current safety regulations, to lessen the possibility of wrist and eye strain.

Most photographers sometimes have to lift reasonably heavy and bulky equipment, such as flash lighting. A risk assessment will highlight the potential damage to the human torso, which may result in long-term absence from work. Manual handling training can help people to store equipment at correct heights and how to lift objects. Also, a risk assessment can indicate where mechanical aids such as trolleys can be of help.

With the advent of digital imaging in the industry, chemicals for processing and printing (wet processing) are not so widely used. There are however certain products which are hazardous, for example, batteries and printer ink cartridges, along with industrial cleaning substances. These should all be listed as required by COSHH on a risk assessment.

Electrical safety is also very important. All electrical equipment such as flash equipment, kettles, microwaves etc. should be tested (usually referred to as portable appliance testing) at specified intervals. The electrical wiring installation of the photographer's premises also requires testing at specified intervals. A competent person should carry out all testing and records of these tests must be kept.

Location safety mainly revolves around 'trips, slips and hazards'. Each location should be assessed to ascertain hazards and where possible to control these to reduce any injury resulting from an incident, especially to any member of the public. Photographers, their employees and the self-employed should work within the framework of the Health and Safety at Work Act, and where reasonably practicable, take steps to ensure the safety of themselves and others around them.

Health and Safety for Traditional Photography

Working in the Darkroom

•  Make sure all work surfaces are clean and free of debris, litter etc.
•  Put any bags or belongings away from these work areas.
•  Remember the darkroom is a low light, and even no light, working environment. So store coats,   bags etc. where they cannot be tripped over. Under the enlarger bench is a good place.
• Make sure that the equipment you intend to use are clean, dry and to hand.
• Turn on any extractor fans.
• Check that the enlarger bulb is working.
• Check that the chemicals you wish to use are fresh.
• Mix any chemicals you need and place them in the correct apparatus, for example printing trays, before turning off the main white light.
• Do not take food or drink into the darkroom.

Correct Use of Chemicals in the Darkroom.

• Always keep chemicals away from the dry benches and electricity.
• Water based chemicals and electricity do not mix and can be lethal.
• Do not touch electrical equipment, enlargers, timers etc. with wet or damp hands. (This is one of the reasons darkrooms are built with a dry bench area, for enlargers etc., and a wet bench area, for chemicals, printing trays, developing tanks etc.)
• Do not walk around carrying chemicals in printing trays, developing tanks etc. You can spill them and cause the floor to become slippery.
• Wear protective gloves if possible, if not, avoid prolonged contact with photographic chemicals. If you have sensitive skin, take special care. When printing, use printing tongs.
• When you have finished wash your hands.
• Take care not to put fingers in or near your mouth and do not rub your eyes.
• If you get chemicals in your eyes, via a splash or rubbing your eyes, use an eyewash and seek medical attention. Take the chemical bottle, showing label, with you when you visit doctors.
• If you have a cut or a graze on your hand protect it with a waterproof plaster. After you have finished working in the darkroom remove the plaster as it may have chemicals on it.
• When pouring chemicals take care not to splash.
• Always wipe up any spillage right away.

Using Photographic Lighting Equipment Safely

• Always uncoil all electricity cables, do not leave them wound on any storage spool. If you do this, the coiled cable gets hot and there is a serious risk of fire.
• Tape down, using strong ' gaffer ' tape. This prevents people tripping up on loose cabling.
• Always use the correct lighting stand for the photographic lighting you are using.
• Do not over reach/raise the lighting stand, this can cause the stand to tip over.
• Please remember that photographic lights, particularly tungsten, can get very hot. Do not over balance them. If they fall onto a model, for example, they can cause horrific burns to skin.
• If they fall whilst unattended, there is serious risk of fire.
• If adjusting ' barn-doors ' etc. on tungsten lighting ALWAYS use protective gloves.
• After you have finished, allow the lighting equipment to cool down before moving.
• Always use the correct fuse specified for the equipment you are using.
• Do not overload electricity supply/circuit.

COSHH - The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002

When using chemicals, all photographers need to be aware of COSHH. All chemical containers should be labelled with COSHH symbols that identify how hazardous they are. They should be clearly labelled, for example irritant, toxic etc. If you are working with any chemicals, understanding COSHH symbols and having the knowledge to take the right precaution is critical. If any mishap does occur and a trip to A and E is necessary, practical advice would be to take the chemical container with the patient. The chemical components will speed up diagnosis!

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 is a United Kingdom Statutory Instrument.

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations have been in place for more than 20 years and the scientific evidence suggests that over this time industry has, in general, been consistently reducing exposure to hazardous substances.

Dependent on working environment or job requirements, photographers can undertake operations which result in exposure to chemicals or hazardous substances. It is important to ensure that exposure to hazardous substances is minimized and does not fall foul of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (2002).

Harmful chemicals and substances may cause serious health conditions, health problems that may arise can influence a photographers productivity and, possibly, the entire production and operations of the images and business.

COSHH Regulations require that suitable risk assessments are completed and that necessary precautions are implemented to prevent or minimize exposure to harmful or dangerous chemicals.

COSHH assessments and monitoring exercises are required to fully evaluate a situation and advise on actions required to manage the risk and prevent photographers’ ill-health.