Safety
As we already recommended, working areas should be kept clean and tidy. This is also important with respect to safety. Film cans left on the floor in a darkroom are a potential danger and can cause accidents. They should be stored whenever possible on racks.
Spillage must also be cleaned up immediately, particularly with wet printing liquids such as Perchlorethylene that is toxic.
When we are operating wet printers, we must ensure that all extraction and air circulation units are operating correctly.
Solvents such as Perklone are heavier than air so there must be floor level extraction to remove the fumes.
Rules regarding the storage of Nitrate films must be strictly adhered too because of the high inflammability of this type of film. The risk of fire in laboratories handling Nitrate films is a real factor and you must take special notice of fire exits and escapes. Strict adherence to the fire regulations and instructions of the laboratory is essential.
Cans of Nitrate material should only be kept in the printing room while they
are being worked upon and returned to the vaults as soon as
possible.
A printing machine has a number of moving parts, including rotating sprockets that can cause injury if hands or fingers are put near.
Loose clothing such as ties or belts should be kept clear of moving parts.
Long hair can also catch in moving parts causing severe injury.
These dangers are amplified as we are working in the dark or under safelights.