Overview
The Office of Academic and Research Safety, OARS, also provides guidance to the Arts, Media and Design community.
To prepare you to work with a wide range of hazardous materials, a basic understanding of the potential hazards present in various art materials and processes is essential.
Managers of all Makerspace, Studio, Shops and Design Labs are required to maintain their chemical inventories in ChemTracker, the University’s chemical inventory system. Please contact the OARS Lab Safety Team to create a profile to host this inventory.
NOTE: The Arts Safety program here at Northeastern University is still under development.
Quick Links
Artist Beware!
A comprehensive art safety text.
Tools and Guidelines
See Below
Arts, Crafts and Theatre Safety
Expert guidance.
Hazardous Waste Management
Link to ECOS
Makerspace Health and Safety
From our colleagues at Harvard University
Training Requirements
I am working with hand and/or power tools in a Studio/Shop/Makerspace. Which training program is required?
- If you work with hand and power tools in Northeastern makerspaces, shops or design labs, you are required to completed our Shop Safety course hosted in the BioRAFT platform.
- Anyone with a NU ID can log into the BIoRAFT platform to access the course.
I work with chemicals such as oil paints, paint thinners, solvents, or other hazardous materials. Which training program is required?
- If you work with hazardous chemicals, including paints, solvents, glues or other materials, then you must complete the Hazard Communication course hosted in the BioRAFT platform.
- This is a requirement under the OSHA Hazard Communication standard for everyone working with chemicals outside of wet laboratories (such labs have their own separate standard and requirements).
- Anyone with a NU ID and email can access this platform.
Hands-on Training from Design, Studio and Makerspace managers are required for all hazardous materials, tools and machines specific to that area.
Tools and Guidelines
From our colleagues at Yale University. Contact OARS with questions about these activities on our campus.
- Art Studio Safety Guidelines for Residential Colleges
- Art Safety Dos and Don’ts
- Painting and Sculpture Chemical Waste FAQs for Graduate Students
- Painting Studio Safety Guidelines
- Painting Safety Guidelines for Undergraduate Students
- Printmaking Safety Guidelines
- Sculpture and Photography Studio Safety Guidelines
- Silica Safety Guidelines for Clays and Plasters
- Creating Art Safely: A Six Step Process (Video)
- Art Safety Guidelines
Contact Us
For general inquiries please contact OARS.
Email: oars@northeastern.edu
Phone: 617.373.2769
Northeastern University
Office of Academic and Research Safety/OARS
320 Renaissance Park, 1135 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02115