Theatre Design & Technology - Fall 1995 - 62

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TO&T

Letters
Dear Editors:
I \ras pleased to see ~Ir..lames' article describing some of the numerous chemicals used intheatrical renues and their dangers in the Spring 1995 Issue of ?DC: T (Yolume 51 'iumber 2). Some specific hazards that were not mentioned. or incorrectlr stated in the arlicle add to the lack of education concerning our use of materials.
The raried chemical composition of foams makes work with the finished materials dangerous. Sanding. cuning. grinding. and burning of rigid foams creates dusts. smoke. fumes. and gases
that can harm the worker. The dusts and particulates can be especially sensitizing. Precautions
should be taken br using proper respiratorr protection.
T\ro part foam srstems can be some of the most dangerous of casling materials. Often these
srstems include isocyanates as crosslinkers in the polrmerization of the resins. Isocyanates are extremeil' sensitizing and irritating. Ther can cause lOll' lerel irritations to acute asthma-like problems. The Threshold Limit Yalues (TUs or safe le\els of exposure) of these substances are so lOll'
that it is difficullto maintain s:tfe le\els. ~Ir. james mentions the use of a respirator and fresh air
enrironment to protect from thesc toxins. In facl. no air purifring respirator can protect a worker
from these chemicals. The onl\ protection is a local exhaust srstem that can contain the project or
self-contained breathing apparatus. :\ final concern for foaming systems is possible fire hazards
and explosion hazards from the exothermic reactions.
Thermoset plastics pose se\eral hazards such as the corrosi\e qualities of the resins :U1d solrents and the production of hazardous \apors requiring respiratorr protection. \\hich ~Ir. james
points OUl. Organic peroxides used as initiators or catal\sts are \err reactire and unstable and can
become shock sensiti\e and possiblr explode \\hen heated or stored for long periods of time.
,\Ir. james suggests latex rubbers are safer than most other ca ·ting materials yet there are two
important safety items that \\ere not mentioned. Ammonia. one of se\er:tl soil'ents commonly used
as a soil'ent in casting latex. is a respiratory irritant. ~ISDS should be read carefully to identi~' the
particular soh'ents used and \rorkers should take the precaution of using glOl'es and respiratory
protection. Close work with latex materials should be performed \rith local rentilation or. lacking
thal. a respirator fined \\"ith appropriate cartridges. In some people. latex «til also cause sensitirities that range from rashes up to anaphdactic shock. There ha\e been se\eral reported deaths.
1\11'. james's article points out the need for continued education and in\estigation into safety
and health malleI'S in the theatre. I applaud his initiati\'e to inform others of the hazards and dangers of the products we use. 1\1\ hope is that e\,er\, person will take the time to learn about the dangers and hazards of thci I' \\ork so thcy can properl\ protect themsel\es.
Raymond Inkel
Production Safety Coordinator
The Santa Fe Opera
Thurston James replies:
~Iy article was not a comprehensi\c discussion of the hazards associated \rith the prop-building
materials I brieflr cataloged. but I agrcc with ~Ir. Inkelthat e\ery person should learn as much as
possible about the materials they work \\ith. since man\ of thcm are dangerous. As I said in my article. "rou must bccome :l\I'are of the he:tlth hazards and dccide \\hether you \rant to the run the
risk of using a particular producl.··
~Ir. Inkel"s comments about the hazards inherent in using materials such as foams. thermoplastics. and latex casting agcnts should help craftspeople make informed decisions about the safe
usc of these products. I \\ould like to cmphasize anothcr point: The rolume of a chemical used can
greatly affcct the dcgrce of risK. and thus the degrce of safety prccautions necessary. For instance.
\\hcn using latex for casting something sm:tlilike a mask. thc quantitr of chemicals is small cnough
that propcr glOl'cs and a local cxhaust srstem will protect thc uscr from anI' toxic exposure through
inh:tlation or skin absorption. 1I0\\c\cr. mulli-g:tllon quanti tics of latcx. sal'. for corering large scenic units. \rould release dangcrous le\cls of ammonia \apors hc\ond \\hat most sccnic facilities
can safeii' handle. *:.
/TD&T lI'elcollles reader COllllllellts alld sllp,gestiolls. !'lease selld)'ollr COllllllellts to tbe lSIT!'
EditorialOffice.j

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Fall 1995