設計・制御
Dust Safety / Studio Safety
Japanese: 防塵・安全管理
Safety precautions when handling glass powder, refractory gypsum powder, and ceramic fiber powder. An N95 or higher dust mask, safety goggles, and gloves are required. Crystalline silica is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the IARC.
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Dust Safety refers to safety measures designed to protect the body from dust generated by the powdered materials handled in the Kiln Work Studio (treatise §15.3, Chikaoka 2012, p. 8; Chikaoka 2021, p. 8). Materials posing a particularly high risk: (1) Crystalline silica (SiO₂)—found in refractory plaster, silica sand powder, and ceramic molds. Inhalation poses a risk of silicosis and lung cancer (classified as Group 1, “carcinogenic to humans,” in IARC Monograph Vol. 100C, 2012). (2) Ceramic fibers (alumina-silica fibers)—Generated during the cutting and processing of fiber-type materials and fiberboard. (3) Glass powder (during cutting, polishing, and frit preparation)—Contains silica particles.
Required protective equipment: N95 (or equivalent or higher) dust mask (particle capture efficiency of 95% or higher), safety goggles (to prevent dust from entering the eyes), and chemical-resistant gloves (to prevent skin irritation and contamination). Chikaoka (2012, p. 8; 2021, p. 8) explicitly states that these three items must be worn when handling ceramic fibers and release agents. In studio design, a dedicated work area with a ventilation fan should be provided for powder work, and wet processing (handling the material with water added) should be prioritized. Dry cutting of plaster is one of the highest-risk operations; it is recommended to switch to processing it underwater or in a moist state.
Related Concepts
耐火石膏（refractory-plaster）・近岡式耐火石膏（chikaoka-plaster）・粉体型加熱成形法（powder-mold-forming）・ファイバー鋳型casting法（fiber-mold-casting）・セルベン（selvane）・離型剤（release-agent）
This entry is written in Japanese by Rei Chikaoka and translated for readers outside Japan. If something reads oddly, the original is the source of truth.