Health and safety

Safety Tips
Accident Insurance
Safety Course for Artists

It's important for an artist to work in a safe environment. An artist's livelihood depends on their good health. Carvers have to be especially concerned about safety and their health. Power tools grind up lots of dust, make plenty of noise, and cause rock chips to fly up. Breathing in stone dust is harmful. Rock dust accumulates in the lungs and causes a variety of serious illnesses, like silicosis or pulmonary fibrosis.

In 2001, a team of scientists from the University of Alberta traveled to Baker Lake, Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak and Cape Dorset to study the impact of years of slicing stone on carvers. The results of that study are expected to be released in the fall of 2001 or the following year, according to Patrick Hessel, the professor spearheading this study.

• Always read the operating instructions for any mechanical tool, and understand them. If you have trouble understanding the English, ask for help from the Workers' Compensation Board safety officer.
• Whenever cutting or grinding rock, wear protective eye goggles.
• Always wear a good respirator - a high quality face mask respirator with replaceable air cartridges and clean filters. Don't settle for a cheap dust mask. Make sure your respirator fits well. You must be clean shaven . No beards allowed, not even stubble! The respirator must fit snugly to your face to prevent leaks. Test your respirator as well.
• Wear protective ear muffs.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome, a repetitive movement affliction that bothers typists, can happen to carvers too because they hold their wrist in the same unnatural position. While carving, try to reposition your body or your work to maintain the neutral position of your wrists when you drop your hands to your side.
• When using electric tools, use double-insulated tools only. Always use a ground fault interrupter.
• Wear gloves. If working with air hammers and vibrating equipment, wear special vibration isolating gloves.
• Wear a rubber apron and safety-toed footwear.

Here are additional tips from the Inuit Art Foundation's The Adventures of Sananquaqatiit book series (Vol. 1, No. 2)

• Use the right tool for the job
• Make sure the tool is in good working order
• Use only the attachments recommended for the tool.
• Make sure power tool cords are not cut or frayed.
• Make sure your extension cords are meant for outdoor use and are properly grounded
• Make sure safety guards are in place. If your grinder kicks back, or you lose control of it, the guard could prevent a serious injury. Guards keep dust and chips moving away from your body. Guards also keep dust away from the ventilation ports of your tools. Rock dust is very abrasive and can damage the inside of your tools, too.
• Make sure grinding and cutting discs are in good shape, not worn.
• Remember to disconnect tools before changing the bit, bur or disc
• Make sure the bur on your die grinder has as short a shaft length as possible.
• Work away from water and wet areas.
• Use a vice or sandbags to hold your carving in place - not your legs or feet. Or secure it from the bottom with masonry screws fastened to a solid base.
• Make sure nobody is wandering around your worksite while you're using grinders.
• Disconnect and store all tools in a dry, dust-free place.
• Roll up all extension cords.
• Check your respirator for dust build-up and clean, if necessary
• Stock up on replacement filters for your respirator.
• Change out of your dusty workclothes before going indoors
• Make sure children don't play around your dusty worksite.
• Don't leave power tools outside - condensation can form inside and freeze. Maintaining your power tools helps them last longer.

Worker's Compensation protects workers who lose income as a result of a work-related injury. Nunavut artists and carvers can be covered by the WCB by registering as "Independent Operators with Personal Optional Coverage." There is a fee.

If you are injured while working, you may be eligible for:

- medical aid
- physical rehabilitation
- vocational rehabilitation
- compensation for wage loss during any period of total temporary disability
- permanent disability pensions.

Should you die while at work, your dependent may be eligible for:

- pensions
- funeral expenses.

You must renew your coverage each year.

For more information:

Workers' Compensation Board
Iqaluit NU
Phone: 1-877-404-4407 or (867) 979-8500
Fax: (867) 979-8501

Workers' Compensation Board
Rankin Inlet NU
Phone: 1-877-404-8878 or (867) 645-5600
Fax: (867) 645-5601

The Workers' Compensation provides a free course to artists called "Safety Awareness for Artists and Carvers." To learn more about it, click here.