Health and Safety for Art Educators

Health and safety priorities continue to be an important part of a teacher's job. Daily vigilance and awareness is critical, both to keep our students safe and ourselves as education workers. The Ontario Ministry of Labour is currently conducting site checks at classroom locations in various district school boards. Usually these are unannounced and fairly comprehensive, likely more so than the twice-yearly board/federation inspections that are supposed to take place in all schools. Keep in mind, these inspections pertain to the health and safety of employees, namely teachers, education workers, and administrators. Any findings of unsafe or unhealthy conditions in art classrooms, computer labs, storage rooms or staff office areas must be corrected immediately in order to mitigate liability. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) must be available for all materials being used in a Visual or Media Arts program (these should be on file either with the school board or your school).

Talk to your administrators regarding health and safety protocols as laid out in your board's operating procedures. Curriculum superintendents or arts coordinators/lead teachers should be able to provide you with further information and guidance. See the print and on-line resources listed below for further reference. 

Safety in the Artroom (revised edition) by Charles A. Qualley. Worcester,MA: Davis Publications, Inc., 2005. ISBN# 0-87192-718-7

Artist Beware (updated & revised) by Michael McCann. Guilford, CT: The Lyons Press, 2005.  ISBN# 1-59228-592-9

CARFAC - CANADIAN ARTISTS REPRESENTATION / LE FRONT DES ARTISTES CANADIENS - "Health Hazards and Safety Tips for Artists"

CARFAC - CANADIAN ARTISTS REPRESENTATION / LE FRONT DES ARTISTES CANADIENS - Ontario. Website