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SaltyDog Pottery Studio
30 Meadowside
Storrington RH20 4EG
Health and Safety Policy
Last reviewed - September 2026
Responsible Person - James Colver (Studio Owner)
STATEMENT OF INTENT
SaltyDog Pottery Studio is committed to ensuring the health, safety and welfare of all staff, students, volunteers and visitors. We will comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002.
This policy will be reviewed annually or after any incident.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Owner: Overall responsibility for risk assessments, maintenance of equipment, COSHH data, first aid and fire procedures.
All users: Must follow this policy, wear PPE as directed, report hazards
GENERAL STUDIO RULES
Tie back long hair and remove hanging jewellery and loose clothing / strings / straps whilst working on the wheel
No food or drink whilst mixing glazes
Children under 16 must be supervised / accompanied by an adult at all times
First aid kit and accident book are located in the glaze ingredient room
WHEEL-THROWING
Hazards: Repetitive strain, slips from water / clay, entanglement, back injury.
Controls: Wheels maintained in a state of cleanliness. No trailing wires across the floor. Water / clay spills cleaned up immediately - slip hazard. Take regular breaks to prevent RSI. No loose clothing or jewellery over wheel head. Wheels PAT tested.
GLAZE-MAKING - COSHH
Hazards: Silica dust (silicosis risk), metal oxide toxicity, skin/eye irritation
Controls: All glaze mixing to be done wearing FFP3 dust mask (EN149), safety goggles and nitrile gloves. Mixing in designated area only. Always add powder to water, not water to powder, to reduce dust. COSHH data sheets available for all glaze materials. Wet-mop floors daily, never dry-sweep. No eating and drinking whilst mixing glazes. Eye wash station located in glaze ingredient room.
KILNS
Electric kilns are only to be operated / loaded / unloaded by the studio owner - no student involvement. Kilns located in area away from student access.
RAKU-FIRING WORKSHOPS
Hazards: Extreme heat, open flame, smoke, burns, fire.
Raku-firing workshops only to be led by studio owner.
Controls: Raku firings are outside. Student numbers kept to a maximum of four. All students are equipped with leather aprons, leather gauntlets (to 500C),eye protection. Students to wear sensible / sturdy footwear, e.g. leather boots. FFP3 mask for smoke. Check gas bottle regulator and hoses for leaks before using (soapy water test). Gas bottle upright, away from kiln.Have available: water buckets, first aid kit, fire blankets, fire extinguisher. Reduction bins: metal bins only on fire-proof surface (concrete / tarmac floor) combustibles (newspaper / sawdust) not kept loose around area. Pots lifted with long tongs only. Plan route fromkiln to bins before unloading. Students practice using tongs on cold pots first. Raku kiln never left unattended whist firing. After firing: gas isolated at bottle, all lids on reduction bins. Emergency: burns, cool under running water 20 minutes, call 999 if severe. Isolate gas, evacuate, no ignition sources.
TRAINING AND INDUCTION
Health and safety policy to be available to all students / visitors via the website (www.saltydogpotterystudio.co.uk) and a printed copy in the studio. Any new members of staff to read and sign the policy after receiving induction.
ACCIDENTS AND REPORTING
All accidents / incidents entered in accident book. RIDDOR reportable incidents reported to HSE
Signed:
Date:
Appendix - student acknowledgement for raku workshops / glaze-making workshops
I have read and understood SaltyDog Pottery Studio Health and Safety Policy and will wear PPE as directed and follow staff instructions
*See hard copy in studio for date of next revision