Studio Safety & Etiquette Guidelines

The studio is a collaborative and supportive communal space for everyone to work with their clay. Our studio guidelines are designed to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. All visitors must abide by the following guidelines. In addition to best studio practices, we prioritize an environment where everyone feels safe and included, this includes the safety of your personal items. Please take precautions to safeguard your personal belongings while in the studio. The studio is not liable for any damaged, lost, or stolen items.

General Safety in the Studio

The ceramic studio is a quiet and safe space to work on your ceramic art. However, due to the nature of ceramics, there are a few safety guidelines

• Like all dirt, clay contains quartz and crystalline silica. While clay is generally safe to handle, dry clay may produce dust that may cause lung damage through prolonged and repeated inhalation. Studio policies promote working safely with clay.
• Please handle all raw materials with safety in mind. The dry form of all clay, glaze, and raw materials can expose you to hazards when not handled properly.
• When handling and mixing DRY ceramic materials and powders, wear a breathing respirator, eye protection, and goves to protect your lungs and hands.
• Electric pottery wheels have motors and create a magnetic field that is potentially harmful to pacemakers. 
• It’s not recommended to consume food and drink in the studio. Consumption of food and drink is done at the your own risk.
• The studio can use a lot of water, heat, electricity, gas. Do not use equipment that you have not been trained on or are not authorized to operate. If you have any questions, ask a studio technician.
• PROP 65 WARNING FOR RESPIRABLE SILICA: Entering this area can expose you to chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.p65warnings.ca.gov.

Working in the Studio

• Community Etiquette
  • No loud conversation and music
  • Do not touch or move others’ works and pieces. 
  • If you wear headphones, keep the volume on low. Be aware of your environment and what’s going on around you. 

• Photos & Videos
  • Want to document your ceramic journey? Great! Be sure to follow these guidelines
  • Be aware of your surroundings and record safely
  • Recordings must not be disruptive to others in the studio
  • Do not record others without their permission

• Attire:
  • No open toed shoes
  • No loose articles of clothing such as ties and jewelry
  • Long hair must be tied back and be above shoulder length
  • Non-slip shoes highly recommended

• Mimize Dust
  • Minimize clay dust by working wet when possible
  • No dry sanding of greenware or bisque
  • Use wet sandpaper and grinding stones, or work on your piece outside
  • DO NOT blow clay dust, trimmings
  • Work outside for any processes that will create dust. 
  • Wear proper PPE to keep yourself protected.

• Studio Tools & Equipment
  • Please make sure you are familiar with and authorized to use the tools in the studio. Do not operate equipment that you have not been trained on or authorized to use. If you need help please ask a studio technician.
  • Individuals will be held responsible for any damages to studio equipment resulting from misuse.
  • Slab Roller: Make sure to adjust the thickness dial on both sides and use canvas.
  • Wheels: Make sure wheels are turned off after use. Return pedals and stools to their original location. Please reserve a wheel through the website to ensure availability.
  • Extruder: Clean out all clay immediately after use.
  • Wedging table: Do not mix light and dark clay. Do not use a metal scraper on the plaster surface.
• Clay Matters
  • Only use clay purchased from the studio. Different clay bodies mature at different temperatures and interact differently with different glazes.
  • Use reclaim bins to put away all trimmings and unwanted clay so it doesn’t go down the drain. Please only place clay into the reclaim bins.
  • Do not put bisque or glazed pieces into the reclaim bin
• Glazing Tips
  • Stir up glazes well before glazing
  • Do not add or remove water from glazes. If the consistency of the glaze looks off, please inform studio staff.
  • Keep lids on glazes when not in use. This will ensure that glazes don’t get contaminated. Use one glaze at a time.
  • Do not mix glazes. You can’t mix and match glazes like with paint
  • If you are using multiple glaze colors or using oxides, make sure the first glaze, oxides are dry before applying second glaze.
  • Wax all pieces and clean up all pieces before placing on glaze shelf.
  • Clean up all stir sticks, cups, etc when done
• Mark Your Pieces
  • Mark your name or initial on your pieces.
  • If you are in a class, include your class code
  • Pieces without maker’s marks will not be fired.

Cleaning

• Plan for around half-hour each visit for cleaning.
• Use ware boards and trays to facilitate clean up.
• Clean community tools after use and place them back in the correct area.
• Minimize clay that goes down the drain by placing all scraps and slip into the clay reclaim bins. Put ONLY clay into reclaim bins.
• Clay that has been contaminated should be thrown in the trash.
• Place all works-in-progress on their appropriate shelves. Works cannot be left out on workbenches and common areas.
• Use sweeping compound to sweep up and then mop to clean the floors for your work area as well as the adjacent area.
• Use clean wet sponge for wiping down all surfaces and equipment.
• Sponge needs to be cleaned as well otherwise it’s just spreading more clay around.
• Clean as you go and final clean up will be much quicker.
• Clean up spills and splashes right away.

Kiln Room

This is where all the ceramics gets fired. There is lots of electricity, gas, and heat that’s going on in this area. The kiln room houses many heavy machinery that can be dangerous. Please do not use any tools that you have not been authorized to operate. Do not open kiln doors that are open or close kiln doors that are open. If you think something is wrong, please inform a studio technician. We will open the roll up door during studio hours for ventilation, and if you are working on something that’s likely to generate dust, you have to work in the outside area through the kiln room.

last edited 2/10/26