Safety, Health, and Environmental Compliance - Fine Arts

The information below is to be read and signed by each Fayerweather fine art student, faculty, and staff memeber at the beginning of each semester. Any questions or concerns regading this information can be directed to ehs@amherst.edu. 

Emergency Preparedness Planning

Campus Emergency (413) 542-2111 (Ambulance, Fire, Police & Hazards)

Non-Emergency Numbers

  • Amherst College Police: 542-2291
  • Facilities/Service Center: 542-2254
  • Env. Health and Safety: 542-8189
  • Fine Arts Safety Person: 542-5784

Fire Alarm / Evacuation /
Accountability

  • Evacuate building: Closest EXIT
  • Accountability Area: 50 feet from building
  • Please consult with your professor at the beginning of the semester regarding your class's Accountability Area. 

Fire 

If you encounter a smoke or fire condition on campus (in the dorms or in an academic building) perform the following, remembering the acronym CAPE: 

  • Close door to Contain the fire
  • Alert persons in the Area
  • Pull the fire alarm and Phone 542-2111
  • Extinguish (if trained) or Evacuate
  • If you are interested in receiving fire extinguisher training, please email ehs@amherst.edu

Medical Emergencies

  • Significant illness/injuries such as bleeding or unconsciousness should be immediately reported to Amherst College Police Department. 
  • If you see a fellow student, staff, or faculty member acting strangly or not their usual self, do not hesitate to call the Amherst College Police Department. They could be experiencing unknown health conditions such as diabetes or be under the influence of drugs/alcohol.  

Mass Notification System

  • In the event of a significant emergency or dangerous situation, Amherst College may notify the community using the AC Alert system. AC Alerts provide students, faculty, staff, and visitors with information that may be critical to their safety via text, voice, email, digital signage, and outdoor speakers. Sign up for AC alerts here.
  • More information can be found on the Amherst College Emergency Preparedness Website.

Security Alarms and Active Shooter:

RUN – HIDE – FIGHT

  • The blue pull stations are only located in Fayerweather. If you activate one of these pull stations, please call the Amherst College Police Department. 
  • In the rare event of an acitve shooter on campus. Perform the following steps to remain safe. 
    • Run: When running out of a buidling, put your hands up in the air with fingers spread. You want to make it known to police and emergency personnell that you are NOT a threat or the perpetrator. 
    • Hide: In the event you cannot run from the perpetrator - hide. Close and lock the door, turn off the lights, pull the shades down, silence yourself and your cellphone. You want to make it look like an unoccupied space, deterring the perpetrator from entering.
    • Fight: If you can't run or hide - fight. Use anything you can in your surroundings to protect and defend yourself. 

Hazardous Material/Emergency Response:

If you are exposed to a hazarodus chemical which gets on your skin or in your eyes:

  • Use the drench showers and the eye wash stations 
  • Perform a Risk Assessment:
    • If there is a potential for injury or illness, relocate to a safe area and call the Amherst College Police Department. 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - MA Department of Environmental Protection

  • Colleges/University are required to comply with all environmental, health, and safety regulations. 
  • Fines/Notices of Non-Compliance can be very expensive:  
    • $18,750 – $93,750 per violation and can reach as high as $300,000.00 - 1,000,000.00. 
  • Laboratories/Art Studios must comply with
    • Policies and Procedures (as directed by the Fine Arts Safety Person and the Professor)
    • Training Requirements/Documentation
    • Site Inspections
    • Housekeeping Practices
      • Wall to Wall Inspections
      • Good housekeeping practices are the best way to ensure safety and prevent hazards and costly violations. 

Violations (Fine Arts specific) 

  • Failure to perform inspections and training (including this form). 
  • Studio/Satellite Accumulation Area inspections (to be conducted weekly by the Fine Arts Safety Person). The following trainings are to be completed by anyone performing these inspections:
  • Not maintaining Safety Data Sheets (any time you are interested in using a new chemical/product, please inform the Fine Arts Safety Person). 
  • Routine inspections shall be conducted of your fine arts studios and workspaces to ensure good housekeeping practices. Most importantly, be aware of any chemicals, including mineral spirits, turpentine, oil based paints that are;
    • not properly capped/covered
    • not properly labeled (all secondary containers must be properly labeled in accordance with Hazard Communication Standard. Please contact the Fine Arts Safety Person if you need a label made.) 
    • not properly disposed of, or
    • considered “waste-like” (paint tubes)
    • incompatibly stored 
    • pouring chemicals down the sink drains or in regular trash (all waste shall be disposed of in the SAA in the fine art studio)
  • These issues must be corrected, as they are all considered violations. 
  • Universal Waste Infractions:
    • Batteries, Lightbulbs, Monitors (please refer to the training above to learn more) 

Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA)

Requirements for Staff and Student Protection
  • Minimum Standards that apply to;
    • Business / Industry
    • Colleges and Universities
      • Laboratories/Studios
  • Fume Hood / Exhaust Systems
    • Reduce chemical Exposure
    • Report system deficiencies to your Professor or the Fine Arts Safety Person 
  • Personal Protective Equipment
    • Consult with Professor with what PPE is required for the fine arts activities you'll be doing in the studio. 
      • No shorts or skirts
      • No open toe shoes
      • Goggles/Safety Glasses
      • Hearing Protection

 Students working in Fayerweather Hall studios should take note of the following safe material usage and disposal protocols:

1) Be aware that some of the materials used in class may be somewhat hazardous.

2) Orient yourself to the safety equipment in the studio such as eyewash stations, emergency showers, vent hoods, etc.

3) Understand the safe handling and usage of the materials being utilized in the class, including needed PPE such as gloves, goggles, safety glasses, etc. Please let the fine arts studio and gallery technician know if you need to be supplied with PPE.

4) Locate the SAA (Satellite Accumulation Area) in each studio and understand the proper disposal techniques for the materials being utilized in the class.  NO PAINTS OR INKS should go down the sink drains. Brushes need to be cleaned in a container, and the dirty water must go into the appropriate collection container in the SAA.

5) Please return any unused paints, inks, glues, cleaners, solvents, etc. at the end of the semester so materials can be disposed of properly.

6) Please refer to the SDS (Safety Data Sheets) for information on the safe use and disposal of the materials you are using. These can be found at MSDSONLINE on the EHS website. These should be read and understood before hazardous materials are used. 

7) If you have questions, please direct them to the studio and gallery technician or the Chemical Hygiene Officer at 413-542-2736.

Agreement
By clicking the 'I Agree' button you signify that you have read and understood the policies and procedures regarding fine arts safety, health, and environmental compliance training at Amherst College.
CAPTCHA Image

Enter the characters shown in the image or use the speaker icon to get an audio version.