Printmaking Studio Rules and Safety Guidelines

All the people that use the printmaking facilities of Zygote Press, must follow these studio rules and guidelines. People not following these will be asked to alter their actions or will be asked to stop their printmaking activities. During open studio hours a monitor is in control of the studio and can answer your questions. Users must recognize his/her authority and responsibility. Users must attend safety training and tutorial sessions to be arranged by Shop Manager prior to be allowed to use printmaking equipment. Friends of users must get approval and pay for Open Studio time if coming with approved user. ANY Print, PRINTED AT ZYGOTE -- All prints made at Zygote Press, on/with our euipment, should absolutely bear the Zygote indicia, by either being CHOPPED [embossed] or stamped on the back. Editions, one print from every edition pulled at Zygote Press, on/with our equiptment, should be given to the Zygote Archive. At no time should anyone be handling Archive prints.

General Safety Rules to be Observed

1. All aerosol spraying and solvent applications must be performed outside on loading dock with designated paper laid down on loading dock. Zygote is currently looking into spray booth/hoods for improved solvent-spray area.

2. Read the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for the hazardous materials that you use.

3. It is recommended that users wear closed toe shoes in the studio.

4. Use personal protective equipment (gloves, eye protection, respirator and an apron) in the studio.

5. No Food or drink are allowed in the digital room, in Polymer Plate Maker/screen exposure room or in Clean Paper area.

6. Chemicals must be stored in their hazard classification. i.e. solvents in flammable cabinets; acids in acid room; and bleach (oxidizing) separate from other chemicals.

7. Users must know where all emergency exits and fire extinguishers are located.

8. Users must notify Shop Manager staff, instructor, or studio monitor if injured or observe an injury.

9. The first aid kit and fire extinguishers are located in the studio for emergency use.

10. Solvent RAGS must be place in respective RED CONTAINERS immediately after use.

11. Spills must be cleaned up immediately and materials discarded properly.

12. No users may use the print studio without either attending a printmaking class or attending a safety lecture unless their is a responsible Open Studio monitor on duty.

13. Please double check the door when you come in-it has the tendency to stick with weather changes. Please pull securely when entering.

14. Make sure that all windows and doors are closed when leaving the studio. Back two doors (one of loading dock and one that goes up to ZPASS and the front door.

15. Users are not allowed to bring personal printmaking supplies such as; steel, solvents, chemistry, inks, or paint into the studio without checking with Shop Manager first. Only materials that appear in the MSDS book are allowed in the studio.

16. Print studio tables, inking stations, presses and general work areas are to be cleaned and degreased with vinegar or Simple Green at the end of each class/session.

17. Bicycles should be placed out of main thoroughfares making clear pathways to shop.

18. No inks or solvent may be stored in users assigned print drawers or cabinets.

19. Users must notify Shop Manager of any personal physical or health limitation that could hinder or affect their usage of the printmaking equipment or facilities.

20. Studio must be cleaned and furniture returned to its original position before users leave studio (stools, tables pushed back, mobile screen tables put back in proper places).

Safety Rules and Equipment Procedures for Individual Rooms within Zygote’s Studio

Safety Rules/General Workshop

1. Limited solvent-based or chemical materials are allowed in this space. Oil, vinegar and other cleaning agents are recommended.

2. No cutting on tables with matte knives or box cutters allowed. Self-healing mats are located under paper table.

3. Expended knives and cutting blades must be place in sharps container.

4. Personal materials and objects must be stored in lockers/studios.

5. Debris and spills must be cleaned up to prevent trip and fall situations.

6. Users cutting wood or linoleum blocks must cut away from themselves. Blocks

should be cut on a bench hook to prevent slippage and aid support.

Paper Guillotine

1. Users must get a tutorial prior to using. Only paper-products to be cut on shear (Only approved materials may be cut).

Digital Lab, Computer/Digital Room Purpose

The digital lab at Zygote has three primary functions:

1. The lab is for users that have taken the digital lab tutorial.

2. Allow users to work in conjunction with a printmaking class (screen, polymer) to produce photo films (positives or negatives) and to produce layouts to assist in the production of print.

3. Provides a space for users to work on projects or Zygote-related activities.

All users use the computer at your own discretion, and all intellectual property it is upon the user to secure and prevent others from using. Zygote is not responsible for any files lost or left on desk top. All files should be stored on your own USB. All files and other saved information on the computer will be routinely cleared.

Safety Rules

1. See General Safety Rules: all apply!

2. No food or drink is permitted in the digital lab.

3. All users are advised to use hand sanitizer before and after using keyboard.

Computers, Scanners, and Printers

1. See safety and ergonomics for computer use.

2. Monitors should not be repositioned or moved in tech room.

3. Computer users should adjust chairs to their appropriate height.

4. Printouts must be removed from printers, table near printers, and computers.

5. Keyboards must be cleaned after use.

6. Recycle all paper in proper bins and recepticles.

Clean Paper Area

This area is dedicated to only clean activities beginning with paper preparation to the final curating of the prints. The cutting table is for assisting the student in cutting or tearing paper to the proper size and shape.

Safety Rules

1. See General Safety Rules: all apply!

2. Clean area around cutter and place unwanted scrapes in recycling/trashcan.

3. Cutting is allowed only on the self-healing cutting table.

4. No etched plates or plates with an applied ground are permitted in the clean paper space.

Paper Cutting Table

1. The large center table is for cutting paper and matte board and is covered with a self- healing cover material. This cover material saves the edge quality of the blade and holds the paper so that it does not slip or twist, endangering the cutters hand.

2. Tables must be free of debris and cleaned after use.

3. The cutter needs to use caution and be aware of how and where to hold onto the metal ruler as they pull a razor knife along the ruler’s edge.

4. When tearing or cutting paper, the torn edge or the cutting knife or should never pass the holders hand.

5. Expended blades must be placed in the red sharps box located on the wall.

Registration Punch (located in clean paper area)

1. The registration punch can be used for either punching registration holes into paper or plates.

2. Slide paper or plate under multiple holes punch and align to rulers.

3. Press down handle with sufficient pressure to punch through material.

4. Repeat process until finished and clean work area. Discarded materials must place in proper trash container.

Intalgio/Relief General Area

The majority of the print activities take place in this lab for all processes. Screen-printing takes place on screening table with minimum amount electronic or technical equipment. Five etching presses produce the pressure to transfer ink from a copper plate, relief block, or paper sheets to a sheet of paper. All paper after printing is to be placed on the drying racks to air-dry the wet paper or wet ink. In addition the pressroom is equipped with ventilation fans, a flammable storage cabinet, open studio monitors, print cabinets with shop supplies, and paper soaking trays. Intaglio Safety Rules: All General Safety Rules Apply

1. Brayers and rollers must be cleaned properly before being returned to storage

stations.

2. Protective clothing must be worn during printing and clean up; gloves, eye protection and aprons, when using solvents and inks.

3. Scrape ink from inking area using a razor and place-unwanted ink on phonebook page. Take care when using a razor and always scrape away from yourself. The ink and paper must be placed in the designated solvent buckets metal can for ink waste. Clean remainder of ink with Canola oil.

4. Always consider cleaning with Canola oil, then clean area or tools with soap and water and dry completely.

5. All tools must be returned to their storage area after use.

6. All rags with ink or solvent must be placed in the red containers.

7. Ventilation must be turned on before and during the inking procedure and during the cleanup process.

8. Only one person should be operating a printing press at a time. When the hands of the operator are on the crank-hand, after rolling-up the plate and setting the paper, no other person should have hands on the press.

9. Clean press bed after uses to remove ink residue with small amount of solvent on rag and rinse press bed with water to remove solvent and ink residue.

10. No food or drinks are allowed in pressroom.

11. All chemical products must have a MSDS on record, in the MSDS handbook.

12. No user, other then an Open Studio attendee, may use the print studio without either attending a printmaking class or attending a safety lecture before using either the facilities or equipment.

13. All solvents and flammable chemicals are to be stored in flammable cabinet.

Equipment and Safety Procedures Screen Printing Stations

1. A limit of four screens must be stored in the designated screen storage units. Please take other screens home and store in your own spaces

2. All Zygote Screens must be properly signed out.

Screen Cleaning Equipment

1. Only approved chemicals and procedures may be used in area.

2. No equipment is to be left out on/in the printing tables, cleaning areas and sinks. Supplies must be returned to their storage location.

3. Screen pressure washing unit must be connected and disconnected as instructed during training. Water-hose and electric cord must be returned to unit after cleaning and UNPLUGGED!

4. All water should be turned off.

5. All paper and masking tape must be placed in trash container, chemicals returned to storage location and area cleaned up.

Etching Press (same safety procedures)

1. Ventilation must be turned on before and during the inking procedure and during the cleanup process.

2. Only one person should be operating a printing press at a time. When the hands of the operator are on the crank-hand after rolling-up the plate and setting the paper, no other person should have hands on the press.

3. Clean press bed after use to remove ink residue with small amount of solvent on rag and rinse press bed with water to remove solvent and ink residue.

4. All solvents and flammable chemicals are to be stored in flammable cabinet.

5. Return inks to storage area and dispose of unwanted ink in trash container.

6. When working with another person or assistant make sure that they know their assigned activities and safety procedures.

Drying Rack

1. Always remove prints as soon as they are dry. This will reduce the height of the shelves and make it easier to place prints on the rack.

2. The ventilation system must be on when prints are drying on rack.

3. Printmakers must ask for assistance when trying to lift shelves and remove prints.

4. No plates or blocks are to be stored on drying rack.

5. Any prints not taken after drying can be found in Orphan print drawer.

Print Storage Cabinets

1. Users print shelves are for materials that are soon to be printed and dry prints.

2. No chemistry or ink is to be stored in assigned users print shelves.

3. Large or heavy materials neither are recommended to be stored in users’ shelves.

Ink Storage

1. All mixed or modified inks (oil based) in pressroom must be wrapped in aluminum sheeting and have a chemical label on it. All mixed screen printing ink (water based) must be stored in a plastic tray or container with a chemical label.

2. Inks are to be stored on shelves or in areas that identify the process that the ink is specially designed for.

3. Disposed of expended ink cans (dried or empty) in the trash container.

Paper Soaking Trays

1. Do not splash or drip water on floor. Clean up immediately if water falls on floor.

2. Please empty water soaking trays before use.

3. No colored paper or previously printed water based monotype paper in sink.

Exposing Screen and Vacuum Table

4. Table must be clean of debris.

5. Safelights turned on.

6. The matrix is placed in the wash sink to remove unexposed chemistry. Low water

pressure, will washout matrix without splashing water out of the sink.

7. Glass platen must be degreased following and NO CUTTING on this surface. It must

be cleaned up after use.

8. Size of screen not to exceed the tape lines on exposure unit.

9. Carefully unlock and lift glass door and place materials and matrix on table, and

closeglass door.

10. Plug electrical cord into outlet.

11. The matrix is place in the wash sink to remove unexposed chemistry. Low water

pressure will washout matrix without splashing water out of the sink.

12. Darkroom must be cleaned up after use.

13. SCREEN RULES:

1) TURN OFF THE POWER WASHER!!! The power washer continues to be left on. This burns out the motor. Please always turn the power washer off after use. Turn the main water line back to the faucet mode (lever turned to the horizontal position) and ALWAYS UNPLUG THE POWER WASHER AFTER EACH USE!! 2) PUT YOUR STUFF AWAY!!! All surfaces at Zygote are for communal use. This means that when you are done printing for the day, all materials must be put away in your locker. All squeegees cleaned and placed on the shelf. All inks stored away. All papers and transparencies put away in your drawer or if wet, left to dry on the rack. Nothing should be left dirty in the wash out sink. 3) EXTENDED PROJECTS!!! In the RARE instance that you need to leave your screens and equipment set-up overnight, please immediately inform everyone included in the email list serve of the situation. In your email please include the scheduled end

time of your session. No project sessions should last longer 48 hours. If you set-up on a Wednesday morning, all materials must be cleared by Thursday evening at the latest. 4) PLAY NICE WITH THE ETCHERS!!! It is essential that screen printing projects do not flow over into the etching facilities. This being said, please limit your screen printing projects to the vacuum table and the back table in front of the large drying rack. Nothing should be left overnight on this large table for projects that last more than a day. 5) TRIPPIN’ OVER SCREENS!!! Always store your screens when finished. Screens should never be left leaning against the walls, drying rack, or box fans (I'm very guilty of this myself). Store your screens in the screen coating room or in the back by the basement. DO NOT STORE YOUR SCREENS IN THE EXPOSURE ROOM.

Etching

This room is a multi-tasking room that offers a place to prepare an etching matrix by cutting, filing, coating, and etching. This space is equipped with ventilation, etching/cleaning sinks, large metal cutting shear, and hot plate. Safety equipment includes a solvent (flammable storage) cabinet, locked storage cabinets, and acid/etching solution cabinet. Drying Systems Clamped Print Drying system See instructions located near system. Tacks and pins 1. Make sure all prints are removed from wall within a reasonable time period.

2. All prints will be placed in orphan print drawer if wall is necessary for other use.

3. Please make sure all pins are returned to printjar. Do not push them back into the wall when you take your print out.

Safety Rules

1. Users are not allowed to mix or replenish etching solutions or acids, this can only be

performed by the instructor.

2. Personal protective equipment (gloves, aprons, and eye protection) must be worn when using solvents and acids.

3. Solvents and etching grounds must be kept capped when not being used.

4. Materials (paintbrushes, rags, containers, and paper) with solvent or etching ground must be placed in approved disposal containers.

5. Solvents and flammable chemicals must be returned to yellow flammable cabinet after use.

6. Cleaning solutions must be stored away from other chemicals on a spill tray.

7. Ventilation must be used when etching plates or using the hot plate.

8. The eye wash units are available for occasions when accidental

exposure occurs. The eye wash unit must rinse the contaminated eyes for a minimum

of 15 minutes. The user, studio-monitor or, assistant must be notified if contamination

occurs.

9. Plates removed from etching solution should be drained back into the tank before rinsing plate with water.

10. No solvents can be washed down the sink’s drain without being neutralized.

11. The etching room table must be cleaned immediately after use.

12. Spills must be cleaned up immediately to prevent slips and falls.

Equipment and Safety Procedures

Aquatint box 1. Make sure aquatint box is wiped down following use.

2. Make sure all cardboard plate supports are returned to their locations

Metal Plate Cutter

1. Only soft metals (copper, aluminum, and soft steel) can be cut on the shear.

2. Only one plate at a time may be cut.

3. The premeasured and marked plate must be set against the alignment fence before the cutting blade is lowered.

4. Check the area around the shear to make sure that there are no obstructions or individuals within the safety zone.

5. Places one foot on the foot lever to engage and lower the safety fence (front fence of shear to prevent fingers from coming in contact with blade). Once safety fence is set increase force and weight on foot lever until the plate is cut completely.

6. Cut-off remnants plates must be removed from shear and placed in scrap box.

Hotplate

1. Before the hot plate can be turned on, the ventilation system must be turned on.

2. All debris, paper, or solvent-based materials must be removed from the hotplate and the area around it.

3. Turn on hotplate (red will light-up) and twist dial to temperature appropriate (max 150 F) for process.

4. To prevent burns do not touch plate after turning on. Use push sticks to move plate around and off hotplate.

5. After process, turn hotplate off and remain near hotplate until it is cool.

6. After hot plate has cooled down, solvents and shop rags can be used to clean the surface.

7. Ventilation system can be turned off when cleanup is completed.

Shop Sink

1. This sink and rinse off area must be kept clean.

2. No solvents are to be washed down the sink. Materials that need to be cleaned with solvent must be cleaned up outside at the solvent wood-chip box. Wood chips cannot be rinsed off in the sink.

3. Only cold water is available at this sink.

Workspace Safety Rules

1. Never use dull or blunt tools. New or sharp tools are safer as they are less likely to cause accidental injuries.

2. Do not use electrical tools when water is standing or present in work area.

3. Spray booth must have lights and fan operating when in use.

4. Empty aerosol spray cans must be removed from the spray booth and placed in the white aerosol disposal bin.

5. No smoking is allowed under either covered areas.

6. Bicycles are not to be locked under covered area. Bicycle stands are located next to outside wall.

7. The solvent wood-chip box must be kept closed when not in use. No paper towels or rags should be used or left in the box.

8. Solvent dispenser used to clean plates in wood-chip box must be returned to yellow solvent cabinet in etching room.

9. Two or more students must be present when using the Hollander Beater to make paper.

10. Students only trained in the safe use of this machine are allowed to operate it.

11. The hydraulic jack must be placed on the paper press in the proper position so that it does not tip or fall. The jack handle must be inserted fully to operate jack correctly and safely.

12. No open flames within 20 feet of spray booth.

13. Tools checked out from the sculpture tool cage can be used in this area if user has been trained on their usage and safety.

Equipment and Safety Procedures for Spray Booth

1. Place plate or object to be painted on spray rack. Never paint object sitting directly on booth deck or leaning against the filters.

2. Turn on lights and ventilation. Switch located on side of spray booth.

3. Read instructions and safety requirements on side of aerosol spray can.

4. Spray paint or fixative must be shaken vigorously for two minutes.

5. As per instruction hold spray can at an appropriate distance from object and spray.

6. Leave object in spray booth until dry.

7. Return aerosol spray can to yellow flammable cabinet and cleanup area.

8. Empty aerosol cans are to be placed in the white aerosol disposal bin near the backdoor for disposal.

Letterpress

1. Must be certified for using all letterpress equiptment and policy directives will be seperate.

Printmaking Studio Rules and Safety Guidelines

As a Zygote Press Member and Artist Resident, I have read and will abide by the printmaking studio’s rules and guidelines. It will be understood that by following these guidelines in Zygote’s collaborative environment that all artists will be best served under these conditions and best practices.

Print Onward!

Renter’s name: ______________________________________________________ Date: __________________

Renter’s signature: __________________________________________________________________________

Zygote Staff Member Signature: _____________________________________________