Direct positive paper, dev. and safety for kids

[Daniela]

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What a precious memory!

Well, yes, things have changed and, in my case, I'm working with someone else's child too. I will be asking his parents for permission first, so I want to inform them properly. I wonder if there's a comparison I can make (in terms of potential toxicity) to make it more understandable or maybe I should just focus on the safety precautions in place...

 

[MattKing]

One of the reasons I recommend nitrile gloves is that is far easier and quicker to wash/rinse your hands when they have gloves on.
So outside of the safety issue, use of gloves reduces the number of unwanted fingerprints on prints!

 

[cliveh]

Safety goggles and nitrile gloves! This is health and safety gone mad. Black and white film and print chemistry consists of mild alkali and acid solutions that will do no harm.

 

[Anon Ymous]

Safety goggles and nitrile gloves! This is health and safety gone mad. Black and white film and print chemistry consists of mild alkali and acid solutions that will do no harm.

There's more to hazard than pH alone...

 

[Don_ih]

This is health and safety gone mad.

No, it's assurance for the parents of the child involved - parents who don't necessarily understand anything about darkroom operations and assume all chemicals are poisonous or flesh-eating.

 

[MattKing]

Safety goggles and nitrile gloves! This is health and safety gone mad. Black and white film and print chemistry consists of mild alkali and acid solutions that will do no harm.

You've obviously never suffered from any of the allergy-like conditions that some people develop over time as a result of repeated exposure to darkroom chemicals.

 

[Daniela]

Safety goggles and nitrile gloves! This is health and safety gone mad. Black and white film and print chemistry consists of mild alkali and acid solutions that will do no harm.

So you're saying that you'd happily spray your eyes with it? What about all the warning labels, especially this one I have next to me:

Again, this is about safety for a child with impulse control issues and explaining to the parents what precautions I'll take.

 

[Don_ih]

this is about safety for a child with impulse control issues and explaining to the parents what precautions I'll take

Since masks are so plentiful and fairly normal for kids, it would probably be a good idea to use one of those, also.

 

[cliveh]

So you're saying that you'd happily spray your eyes with it? What about all the warning labels, especially this one I have next to me:
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Again, this is about safety for a child with impulse control issues and explaining to the parents what precautions I'll take.

I am not saying they should spray their eyes, or swallow it, or inject it. What I can say is that the thousands or so students I taught put theirs hands in dev, stop and fix without any ill effects.

 

[koraks]

What I can say is that the thousand or so students I taught put theirs hands in dev, stop and fix without any ill effects.

How long did you follow up on this over the years? I.e. how can you be sure none of them developed contact dermatitis later in life?
Also, were your students 10-year olds, or were they older? This makes a difference.

 

[Don_ih]

You know what a ten year old does with their fingers? In the nose, in the mouth, down the pants, repeat.