Studio Health and Safety - Online Course

This online course covers health and safety in the pottery studio from first principles. It begins with how to identify and prioritise risks, then works through every significant area of studio practice: bodily exposure to harmful substances, dust, chemicals, kiln fumes, heat and fire, machinery, repetitive strain and posture, studio layout and workflow, and waste disposal. Where relevant, it covers the applicable regulations in the UK, EU and USA – explained in plain language and focused on what you actually need to do, rather than on paperwork and procedure.

The course is practical in its orientation throughout. It draws on real measurement data, actual analyses of kiln fumes, and evidence-based guidance, and it addresses some of the myths and misinformation that circulate widely in the online ceramics community.

I have been making ceramics since 2008, starting with evening classes and then setting up my own studio a couple of years later.

With a background in science and engineering, I am drawn to the technical aspects of the craft, but enjoy explaining the technicalities in plain language to those with less technical knowledge. I regularly post on these lines on social media, and have been teaching since 2020, mostly online.

I have been involved in health and safety for much of my career, whether in boat building or the wider marine sector. As I became more involved in ceramics, as I was frustrated by the number of people asking health and safety questions online and either getting no answer or incorrect information, so I researched the field and put together this course to help fill the need.

The course has helped many potters make their studios safer places, whether big or small. My approach is practical: understand the hazard, reduce the risk, and get back to making pots safely.

By the end of this course, you’ll have a clear, practical understanding of how to make your studio a safer, healthier and more enjoyable place to work—for you, for colleagues, and for anyone who uses your space.

You will be able to:

Create a safer, more comfortable studio environment

You’ll know how to spot risks before they become problems, reduce hazards throughout the studio, and put sensible safeguards in place without compromising creativity or productivity. Your studio will simply feel better to work in—cleaner, calmer and more organised.

Protect yourself and others from long‑term health risks

Many pottery‑related health issues develop slowly: chronic back and wrist strain, repetitive‑use injuries, dust‑related lung problems, chemical sensitivities, and eye damage. You’ll learn how to set up habits, workflows and equipment use that greatly reduce these risks, supporting a healthier and more sustainable studio life.

Reduce the frequency of accidents and know how to handle them confidently

You’ll understand how and why accidents happen, and how to prevent them through good layout, better storage, safer equipment use and smarter ways of working. And if something does happen, you’ll know how to respond calmly and effectively.

Make your studio more organised, efficient and easier to run

Good health and safety isn’t about red tape—it’s about smoother workflow. With better layout, smarter positioning of tools and materials, clearer pathways, and reduced clutter, you’ll see day‑to‑day work become faster and less tiring. People move more naturally, tasks flow better, and the studio becomes a more pleasant place to be.

Improve the experience for students, volunteers and staff

Whether you run a community studio or teach classes, you’ll be able to make your space clearer, safer and more welcoming for beginners. You’ll be better equipped to guide others, help them develop good habits, and reduce your own supervision load.

Use equipment and processes with greater confidence

From kilns to mixers, from lifting to wedging, you’ll work with tools and materials knowing how to use them safely and efficiently. This improves not just safety, but comfort, stamina and productivity—especially during long studio sessions.

Create a studio culture that supports wellbeing

You’ll have the knowledge to model and encourage safe, thoughtful working practices that become second nature over time. A healthy studio culture keeps people happier, reduces stress and injury, and strengthens the long‑term sustainability of your pottery practice or studio community.

Why do this course rather than piecing together guidance from websites, safety data sheets and advice in online forums?

• The course is built on evidence rather than received wisdom. Dust levels, kiln fume analyses, material risks – these are covered using real data, not worst-case assumptions or social media speculation
• It covers every significant area of studio health and safety in one place, in a logical sequence, so nothing important is missed
• It is designed for the practical realities of running a pottery studio, not for industrial health and safety professionals. The focus is on sensible, proportionate action, not paperwork
• It is equally relevant whether you are running a large community or teaching studio with many users, or a busy production pottery, or working alone in your own space
• Optional additional course material goes well beyond the videos for those who want to explore any area further
• I offer personal support throughout, including answering questions about your specific studio, materials and practices

• About 12 hours of video talks, divided into 8 modules, with subtitles in your language
• PDFs of all presentations for offline reading
• Additional course material to go into topics in more depth
• Personal support through emailing in questions or joining the monthly Ask Me Anything online session
• Access to the Tech section of my website for the duration of the course, which includes specific health and safety information on most pottery materials
• Course attendance certificate (PDF)
• 12 weeks from your enrolment date to complete the course

A self-directed online course with access to your instructor:

• You can start as soon as your order has been processed
• Eight on-demand modules that you can take at your own pace. Each module has:
  • A video talk (approximately 90 minutes)
  • A downloadable PDF of the presentation
  • Optional material to go into things more deeply
• Ask questions any time by email
• Monthly “Ask Me Anything” live session (recorded if you can’t attend)
• Premium access to the Tech section of my website
• Suggested reviews and practical steps you can take in your own studio
• 12 weeks of access is included, extendable at any time for about the cost of buying me a coffee a month
• Course attendance certificate (PDF)

• Those running community, teaching or production pottery studios who want to ensure their studio is safe for all its users
• Individual potters setting up or running their own studio who want a thorough, practical grounding in health and safety
• Anyone who wants to know what PPE they should be using, when, and why
• Those responsible for staff, volunteers or students who need to ensure that they are providing a safe environment
• Studio owners and managers who want to establish good practice and be confident they are covering the things that matter

• Video lectures with subtitles (in English and translated into attendee’s languages)
• Downloadable PDFs in English for offline reading
• Web site is in English
• Email support during the course

1. Risks and Hazards: What health and safety looked like in 19th‑century potteries compared to now. Understanding risks and hazards; how to identify, understand and prioritise risks in your own studio; realistic approaches to minimising risk without compromising creativity.
2. Bodily Exposure: How substances enter the body (skin, eyes, inhalation, ingestion). Choosing and using PPE: clothing, gloves, goggles, respirators.
   Understanding UK/EU/US PPE standards.
3. Something in the Air – Dust Respirable vs inhalable dust; safe dust levels for pottery materials; typical studio dust levels. Sources of dust, how it spreads and minimising dust creation. Dust meters and how to use them effectively. Room & local ventilation; filtration. Respirators. Effective cleaning.
4. It’s Got Chemicals: Reading and interpreting a Safety Data Sheet (SDS); silica explored in depth; safety standards for commercial glazes. The specific risks of materials used by potters. Correct storage and labelling. Applicable regulations in the UK, EU and USA.
5. Hot Air – Fumes from Kilns: What fumes may potentially be produced during kiln firings; an examination of actual tests and analyses of kiln fumes, and what the evidence shows about harmful levels of the substances present; dispelling some of the myths about kiln fumes that exist.
6. Firing: Understanding heat and fire risks; fire extinguisher types and correct use; clothing during firing – the heat resistance and flammability of different fabrics, fire retardant options, and gloves; respirators and fume filter types. Electric kilns: safety features, installation requirements, external surface temperatures, and ventilation options. Gas kilns: gas storage, safety devices, carbon monoxide risks, and installation. Raku, pit and barrel firing: assessing and minimising the specific risks of each
7. Machines and Mechanicals: Machinery in the studio – personal, mechanical and electrical risks, with worked examples of pug mills and angle grinders. Body mechanics: the ergonomics for wedging, throwing, lifting and carrying. Worktop and shelving design to reduce strain; trolleys and other handling aids
8. Workshops and Waste: Studio workflow and layout design for safe practice; slip casting. Waste: minimising waste at source; managing dirty water, sediment traps and filtering; clay and glaze sludge. What can and cannot safely be released into the environment. UK and EU general and hazardous waste categories as they apply to potters, and how to dispose of each correctly; US hazardous waste categories and disposal requirements.

• Do I need experience of running a studio? Some experience of making and firing pots in a studio setting is helpful, but the course does not assume any prior knowledge of health and safety. It starts from first principles and builds up a complete picture.

• Do I need to know anything about health and safety before starting? No prior knowledge is required. Everything is explained clearly, with plain‑English explanations and no assumed prior knowledge.

• How technical is the course? No prior technical knowledge is needed. Technical content – on dust, chemistry, fumes and so on – is explained in plain language throughout, with the emphasis on practical implementation rather than diving deep into the underlying science.

• Does the course cover studios of all sizes? The content is relevant whether it’s just you working in a small space, or a large studio supporting a busy community or teaching space with many users.
• Will I learn how to reduce dust levels in my studio? You’ll learn how dust behaves, how it spreads, how to measure it, and—most importantly—how to minimise dust creation and improve cleaning, layout, and ventilation.
• Will the course help me choose the right PPE? You’ll learn which respirators, gloves, safety glasses, and protective clothing are suitable for pottery work—and which are not. I also cover the relevant UK/EU/US PPE standards, so you can buy equipment that is genuinely protective.
• Will I learn how to read SDS sheets confidently? There is a complete section on understanding Safety Data Sheets, which parts actually matter for potters, how to interpret warnings, and how to store/label materials safely.
• Does this course cover kiln fumes and ventilation? There is a full module on fumes from kilns of all types (electric, gas, raku, pit, barrel), including what tests show, what’s really given off in harmful quantities, and how to ventilate your studio sensibly. This section also clears up several myths commonly shared online.
• Does the course cover gas kilns and raku? The module on firing includes gas kilns, raku, pit firing and barrel firing, with practical guidance for assessing and reducing risks specific to each method.

• Will you answer questions about my specific studio, materials or practices? Yes, definitely. Questions about your own situation are very welcome, and often lead to useful additions to the course material. Just drop me an email, or attend the Ask me Anything session.
• Is the course about legal compliance and paperwork? No. The focus is on the practicalities of running a safe and healthy studio. Where regulations are relevant – for example, on dust levels, PPE, or waste disposal – they are explained in plain language and focused on what you need to do, rather than on administrative requirements.

• Will this course make my studio compliant with laws and regulations? It will help you understand the practical actions needed to reduce risk, which is the foundation of compliance. However, the course does not replace specific legal requirements for commercial studios. It does give you the knowledge to make informed, responsible choices.
• Does the course deal with regulatory paperwork or risk assessments? Only lightly. The focus of the course is on the practicalities of running a safer studio—not form filling. You are shown how to carry out a risk assessment, but the aim is to make your studio safer, not to have another piece of paper to file away.
• Is there anything about managing teams, students or workshop users? The course covers how to make your studio safer for beginners, volunteers, students and new staff, including workflow design, equipment placement, and reducing mechanical and personal risks. It doesn’t cover things like employment law or people management.

• Is the course suited to those outside the UK? Yes. The principles of health and safety are universal, so almost all of the course is directly applicable. Regulations for the UK, EU and USA are given; there may be some differences in other national regulations, with the course concentrating on the UK, EU and USA. The videos have subtitles available in most languages, though the website and PDFs are in English.
• How much time is needed? Around 12 hours as a minimum for the eight video modules, but if you explore the additional material and take time to review your own studio practice alongside the course, you are likely to spend more.
• Do I have lifetime access to the course? You have 12 weeks to complete the course. After that, you can regain access at any time for about the cost of buying me a coffee a month.
• Are there any other costs? No. Any PPE or equipment you might choose to buy as a result of the course is of course up to you, but there are no course costs beyond the enrolment fee.

For general questions on my courses, please refer to the general courses FAQ.