Safely using the cameras and darkroom
The Black and White process we use is quite safe as long as you don't do anything silly. Short of drinking a bottle of undiluted developer or fixer you will not be poisoned by the chemicals. However, you must wash your hands regularly to stop cross contamination and fingerprints on your negatives and prints.
You also need to be aware of the following:
* Don't walk around looking through a camera viewfinder. You might trip over, walk into oncoming traffic, fall down a drain hole. If you watch the news you will see the news camera people being guided by an assistant when they are filming while following someone.
* Be careful with the taps in the darkroom. Make yourself aware of which way the taps turn and always hold the hose. There is a lot of water pressure and the hoses will squirt water over you, other people in the darkroom and the equipment. This could cause electric shock if the water gets into the enlargers and timers. (Hence the plastic bags over the timers.) You can also ruin the unexposed paper.
* If you spill chemicals or water on the floor wipe it up straight away as the painted darkroom floor can get very slippery. Avoid getting developer on your clothes - especially unmixed. It will leave a brown stain that can be very hard to remove.
* Take care when opening the door to the darkroom - people who have been in the darkroom may be blinded with the light as they come out and you may clober them!
* Please keep the noise down as the YFC can hear you!
v1.0 Jan08 AMR.