Health and Safety for Special Effects
For special effects, I’ll be working with different chemicals, tools and machinery, so it’s vital that I understand the risks involved, the different laws to keep me and other people safe, and how to prevent and deal with any hazards.
Chemicals
Acetone is a colourless liquid found in things such as nail polish and paint remover. In special effects, it is used for blending bald caps and silicone prosthetics. It’s a solvent, meaning it dissolves substances quickly. Acetone is flammable, poisonous and can cause irritation to skin, so when using it to apply prosthetics, it needs to be used in small amounts. The main way people are exposed to acetone is through inhaling it, which causes headaches, dizziness, coughing, sore throat and sore eyes. Inhaling a severe amount of acetone vapour can cause nerve damage, unconsciousness and confusion. Acetone shouldn’t be ingested, but very small amounts shouldn’t cause harm. However, if large amounts are ingested, this can lead to acetone poisoning. Symptoms of acetone poisoning are slurred speech, unconsciousness, low blood pressure, lethargy, headaches, smell of fruit when breathing, slow breathing and poor coordination. To prevent health issues caused by acetone, it should be used for short periods of time away from flames in a well ventilated room. Acetone should be kept away from children and ppe such as gloves and long sleeve shirts should be worn.
Neills Materials. (n.d.). Acetone. [online] Available at: https://www.neillsmaterials.co.uk/product/acetone/.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/what-is-acetone#prevention
Common Wounds During the 1940s/War
Trench Foot
Trench foot is a dangerous condition caused by feet being wet and cold for too long.