1. Equipment & workspaces

• Please ensure any tools you have used are cleaned and put back where they belong.

• Please make sure that you clean your workspace when you have finished your session and leave it how you would like to find it. There is 30 mins built into your lesson time to ensure that this can be done.

• Please do not remove any tools, books or other equipment from the studio without prior permission.

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2. Studio health and safety 

• Please wear appropriate clothing, that you don’t mind getting dirty, including suitable closed toe shoes.

• We advise long hair to be tied back. 

• Please refrain from eating and drinking around the work areas.

• In the event of an injury, alert your teacher straight away.

• When cleaning the wheels please ensure that they are switched off and slip water is disposed correctly into the allocated bucket.

• Clay dust: We deep clean the studio weekly, which involves damp cleaning all the surfaces and thoroughly mopping the floor. Always clean your area with a damp sponge/cloth and do not sweep as clay dust can be bad for your health.

• In the event that you need to grind or sand your work you must only wet grind or sand, wear a FFP3 Dust Mask and work outside where possible or ventilate the area by opening available doors and windows.

• Participants must only use tools, materials, and equipment that they have been taught how to use correctly. If in doubt do not use and ask staff for support and additional guidance. Failure to follow instructions and/or health and safety guidance will result in you being asked to leave the class or course with out refund. Weston Cottage pottery takes no liability for tools, equipment or materials being used incorrectly. 

• Please ensure that any sharp tools are stored correctly after use.

• Please ask staff before using any electrical equipment, such as heat guns, Dremel tools etc

• When using a heat gun always point away from yourself, others and potentially flammable materials.

• Always wear a mask and eye protection when using Dremel or powdered oxides. Do not use oxides if you are pregnant (it is important that you inform staff if you are pregnant).

• There is no unauthorised use of the kiln. You must not touch the kilns, whether they are on or not.

• The meeting point in the event of an evacuation from the studio is at the front of the building.

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3. Glazing

• Always use wear an apron when glazing.

• Check with staff before combining glazes. Glaze is not paint and mixing different glazes will not act as such. To achieve best results, follow glazing advise and instructions on the glaze container.

• Please make sure that the bases of your work are well wiped and free from any glaze.

• When using glazes, slips and oxides please use the yellow bucket to clean your equipment, so clay does not damage the drains.

• Please read the glaze bottle to ensure that it is fit for use with functional ware and the clay body used or check with your teacher if in doubt.

• Whilst most of the glazes used in the studio are food and dishwasher safe when applied and fired correctly, they may retain heat to such an extent that if used in the microwave they may be too hot to handle.

• The dishwasher and the associated chemicals may affect the glazed surface over time.

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4. Recycled clay

• We have different recycling buckets provided for clay scraps. Please make sure clay is placed in the correct bucket.

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