Workshop Health and Safety


Our Health Hazard section identifies jewelry making materials and procedures that may pose health risks. Read these articles and stay safe.

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Metals Safety Information

Goldsmiths work with metals. Our bodies react to metals, their dusts, salts and oxides. The metals that jewelers come in...
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Hammering and Forging Safety Guidelines

Goldsmiths and silversmiths use hammers frequently in their work, silversmiths especially. A regular trade goldsmith might use a bench hammer...
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Electroplating Safety Precautions

The "General Safety Rules for Tools" article applies here too, as with all power tools. Read the instruction manuals and...
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Important Principles of Casting Safety

Here's something to aim for: a well laid-out, orderly workshop, well-lit by multiple non glare light sources, well-maintained equipment, electrically...
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Understanding the Working Titanium

Because titanium behaves somewhat differently than the standard metals in the goldsmith's workshop some special attention to its working is...
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Sand Casting Safety Notes

Sand casting is used extensively for large-scale casting, such as engine blocks, and the grates that one sees around trees...
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Patination Safety Considerations

Jewelers use so-called -oxidising- solutions to darken metals like silver, copper, brass, nickel silver, bronze and, with specialized mixtures, on...
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Enameling Safety Issues You Should Know About

Enameling involves the firing and melting of suitable glasses onto and into metals for decorative effects. It is done at...
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Jewelery Workshop Ventilation

Ventilation means removing noxious materials, dusts and fumes from where you can breathe them in. It is about taking away...
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The Basic Techniques of Shell Inlay

The Basic Techniques of Shell Inlay

To learn the art of inlay, its best to start with the basics. This project will walk you through the...
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Potentially Harmful Metalsmithing Substances

In every aspect of my daily life I am, and have been for quite some time, concerned with promoting and...
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Dusts in the Jewelry Workshop

Dust is small particles of a material. There are dusts you can see in the air; these can be breathed...
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Jewelry Workshop Safety Report

This talk briefly reviews issues of studio safety and discusses ways of recognizing risks in the studio and reducing hazard...
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Grinding Wheel Safety Rules

Besides the safety instructions that you get from a tool manufacturer in the tool manual it may be necessary for...
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Lapidary Work Safety Precautions

Goldsmiths sometimes do a little rough and ready lapidary work with emery and leather sticks or even polishing compounds on...
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Working Posture for Craftsmen

Many craftspeople have posture and body position problems. Ramazzini, the founder of occupational medicine and author of a groundbreaking book...
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Metalsmithing Health Hazards

Very little research has been done on the medical problems of artists as a direct result of occupational health hazards....
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Basic Safety Principles for Jewelers

Aim for: a well laid-out, orderly workshop, well-lit by multiple non glare light sources, well-maintained equipment, electrically and fire safe,...
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Gloves and the Jeweler

Gloves are used to prevent skin contact with a hazard, whether physical (like a razor edge on a piece of...
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Goldsmithing Health Hazards

This article briefly reviews issues of studio safety and discusses ways of recognizing risks in the studio and reducing hazard...
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Hydraulic Press Safety Precautions

Goldsmiths began to use hydraulic presses in small shops in the 1940s in North America. Factories have used hydraulic presses...
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Homemade Soldering Station Venting System

Homemade Soldering Station Venting System

A selection of illustration showing an efficient home-made soldering venting system.
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What to Know About Heavy Metal Testing

What to Know About Heavy Metal Testing

Before you submit any jewelry item to a lab to test for heavy metals, you're going to need to do...
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Dermatitis and the Jeweler

Dermatitis is a group of skin conditions that may often be contracted by exposure to chemicals and metals. These may...
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Proper Use of Liquid Metals

Applying liquid gold, palladium and/or silver in the final firing of enamel pieces is something that can frequently raise the...
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Maintaining Good Workshop Air Quality

Four areas in the jeweler's workshop produce harmful substances that MUST be properly removed from the shop in order to...
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Copper Granulation Technique

Copper Granulation Technique

Granulation, a technique used in jewelry and metalwork, is the decorative use of minute metal granules attached to the surface...
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The Jewelers and Asbestos

Asbestos is a real problem for jewelers. When I was first a student in 1974, we had a bucket of...
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Basic Fire Safety for Jewelers

Have a fire plan; ask your fire department for advice. Keep the appropriate extinguishers around and in good shape. Get...
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Gas Handling Guidelines

Jewelers work with compressed gases of all kinds, in torch systems, kilns, casting machines, abrasive blasters, laser welding machines needing...
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Safety Notes for Jewelers on Pitch, Chasing and Repousse

An ancient system of working metals, this procedure uses steel punches to manipulate the metal while it is fixed onto...
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A Pain In The Neck

You start to turn and there it is again. You go to stand up from your chair and it happens...
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Noise and its Effects

Noise is so common that we don't tend to think of it in terms of exposure in the same way...
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, other RSIs and the Jeweler

Carpal tunnel syndrome is only one of many kinds of repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) and cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs). RSI,...
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Basic Chemical Storage Principles

There are a number of basic principles in storing chemicals. Know what your chemicals are, what their hazards are, their....
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Studio Lighting Considerations

How you light your shop, illuminate your working area, experience the reflection from surfaces and the paint you choose for...
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Equipment Maintenance Guidelines

  You pride yourself on your pristine shop. Your equipment is laid out for maximum efficiency, your tools are stored...
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Proper Studio Light

Do not get caught in the dark - make certain your shop is well lit. In the jewelry shop, two...
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Separating Work and Home

Often craftspeople start out making craft objects in their living space, a kitchen, a living room, and sometimes continue working...
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Rules for Tools

While it is clearly impossible to give a set of rules for each tool and procedure that goldsmiths use, this...
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Chemical Inventory and Profiles

If you know what the chemicals are that you use and what their dangers are you will be less likely...
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Bench Tools Maintenance Schedule

Bench Tools Maintenance Schedule

Take a look around you. Chances are there is a flex-shaft or a dust collector you've neglected because you've been...
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Improvements in Shop Security Technology

Improvements in Shop Security Technology

When you work with materials as valuable as precious metals and gemstones, you need to take measures to keep them...
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Safety Procedure Evaluation

Safety Procedure Evaluation

When looking at your shop and workspace and considering safety issues it is important to evaluate the procedures you use...
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Improved Anti-fire Scale Casting Procedure

Improved Anti-fire Scale Casting Procedure

This paper describes a process that eliminated fire scale during a vacuum casting cycle. Castings should not have a fire...
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Platinum Finishing 1 – Safety

Platinum Finishing 1 – Safety

My finishing techniques are up close and personal. The majority of my polishing work is done at the same proximity...
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Metalsmith ’86 Winter: Health Hazards Q&A’s

This article page is from a segment of the Metalsmith Magazine (1986 Winter), “Health Hazards”, discussing questions from readers and...
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How to Handle the Flexshaft

How to Handle the Flexshaft

In the course of my 30 years in the jewelry industry, I can recall many instances of damaged equipment and...
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Studio Safety Evaluation

Studio Safety Evaluation

Just as a professional would do, it may be a good idea to conduct a walk-through of your shop. The...
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Safety Issues and Litigation

After writing my recent safety book something unexpected happened. I had a number of calls from lawyers about safety issues....
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Metalsmith ’85 Summer: Health Hazards Q&A’s

This article page is from a segment of the Metalsmith Magazine (1985 Summer), “Health Hazards”, discussing questions from readers and...
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Metalsmith ’83 Fall: Health Hazards Q&A’s

This article page is from a segment of the Metalsmith Magazine (1983 Fall), "Health Hazards", discussing questions from readers and...
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Workshop Investing Safety

Workshop Investing Safety

Jewelry manufacturers are no strangers to workplace hazards. The process of transforming raw metals into finished pieces of jewelry can...
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Metalsmith ’84 Summer: Health Hazards Q&A’s

This article page is from a segment of the Metalsmith Magazine (1984 Summer), “Health Hazards”, discussing questions from readers about ...
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Metalsmith ’84 Spring: Health Hazards Q&A’s

This article page is from a segment of the Metalsmith Magazine (1984 Spring), “Health Hazards”, discussing questions from readers about...
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Green Bench Tips – Part 2

Green Bench Tips – Part 2

This is the second in a two-part series on green bench tips shared by jewelers who are taking another approach...
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Metalsmith ’83 Summer: Health Hazards Q&A’s

This article page is from a segment of the Metalsmith Magazine (1983 Summer), "Health Hazards", discussing questions from readers and...
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