Children in Art Workspaces

Exposure to certain art materials and conditions can be riskier for children than for adults, so protect them. Children should not be allowed in work areas where they could come in contact with potentially hazardous materials by inhalation, ingestion or skin exposure.

Hazardous conditions such as noise, temperature extremes and dangerous machinery should also be avoided. Work areas with these materials or conditions should be separated from children's living areas. Avoid inadvertently tracking hazardous materials into common household areas or cars where children could come into contact with them. See Control Exposure for more information.

Art products used by children should be carefully evaluated to ensure that they do not contain hazards. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission provides further information on children’s arts supplies; also, review the Resource section for additional information on children’s health and safety issues, and Substitute Materials, which includes charts with material substitutes for art products, including those for children.

Key things to consider about children's interactions with art materials include:

• Children are shorter than adults, so they breathe dust, soil and vapors that might hang close to the ground, or be kicked up from the floor.
  
  
• Children have more hand-to-mouth behaviors that can increase their exposure to ingestion hazards.
  
  

• Children's lower body weight and higher intake rates can result in a greater dose of hazardous substance per body weight if the materials are accidentally ingested.

• Children have developing body systems that can be permanently damaged by some hazardous exposures, especially during critical growth stages.

• Children are less able to understand and participate in prevention activities.

• Children are less familiar with illness symptoms, and less able to verbalize their feelings when they have symptoms.