HANDLING WITH CARE: PROCESSING SPECIAL MATERIALS FOR EXHIBITIONS # 5 A thesis submitted to the faculty of y * San Francisco State University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Master of Arts In Museum Studies by Laura Alejandra Rodriguez Bandala San Francisco, California May 2015 Copyright by Laura Alejandra Rodriguez Bandala 2015 CERTIFICATION OF APPROVAL I certify that I have read Handling with Care: Processing Special Materials for Exhibitions by Laura Alejandra Rodriguez Bandala, and that in my opinion this work meets the criteria for approving a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree: Master of Arts in Museum Studies at San Francisco State University. rard Luby ofessor Studies HANDLING WITH CARE: PROCESSING SPECIAL MATERIALS FOR EXHIBTIONS Laura Alejandra Rodriguez Bandala San Francisco, California 2015 This thesis examines how art non-profits process loaned objects for temporary and traveling exhibitions in the context of special or toxic materials. Safety guidelines, emergency planning, and proper registration procedures for exhibitions in both museums and art non-profits are examined through a literature review and a survey of content experts. The survey results indicate that a lack of implementation of safety guidelines and procedures exist in art non-profits, and that training to ensure staff safety is limited. It is concluded that art non-profits need to learn more about how to integrate museum safety practices and procedures into their practices; should make use of Safety Data Sheets (SDS); and must provide better training to ensure the protection of the health of staff involved in processing, unpacking, and installing exhibitions. Finally, recommendations on improving art non-profits’ safety protocols and awareness of occupational health are presented. I certify that the Abstract is a correct representation of the content of this thesis. Date ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I want to thank my friends and my family, specially my parents, for their constant support and sacrifice. Thank you to Jean DeMouthe, Linda Ellis, Christine Fogarty and Edward Luby for all their help and guidance throughout my studies and the thesis process. Many thanks are offered as well to the staff of the participant art non-profits in California for their collaboration and hard work. Finally, I am ever grateful to my loving husband for his encouragement and great inspiration. v TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables......................................................................................................................... viii List of Appendices.................................................................................................................... x Chapter 1: Introduction............................................................................................................. 1 Chapter 2: Literature Review....................................................................................................7 Traveling and Temporary Exhibitions Basics.............................................................8 Scope of Art Non-profits in California.....................................................................28 Registration and Loan Procedures............................................................................ 35 Workers Health, Environmental Awareness, and Museum Risk Management 49 Hazards in Museum Workplace and Exhibitions..................................................... 64 Chapter 3: Research Methodology......................................................................................... 79 Purpose of Survey.......................................................................................................80 Content Experts...........................................................................................................82 Survey Questions........................................................................................................83 Chapter 4: Survey Results................................................................................... 94 Demographic Results..................................................................................................95 Results on Health and Procedures Questions..........................................................103 Results on Staff Training Questions....................................................................... 109 Chapter 5: Discussion........................................................................................................... 113 Analysis of Demographic Results........................................................................................ 113 Analysis of Health and Procedures Questions.................................................................... 117 Analysis of Staff Training.....................................................................................................121 Chapter 6: Conclusions and Recommendations................................................................. 125 Conclusions................................................................................................................125 Recommendations.....................................................................................................128 Concluding Comments..............................................................................................130 References.............................................................................................................................. 131 Appendices............................................................................................................................. 134 vii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Exhibition Staff List........................................................................................... 11 2. Sample Task Procedure Schedule................................................................... 13 3. Space Usage for Exhibition Production in a Major Museum....................... 19 4. Occupational Health Timeline.......................................................................... 50 5. Environmental Acts and Regulations in the 1980’s.........................................51 6. OSHA Standards that Most Affect Museums..................................................55 7. Hazards of Pigments..........................................................................................68 8. General Hazards in Exhibit Production............................................................73 9. Processing Special Materials for Traveling Exhibitions Survey................... 92 10. Four Types of Art Non-profits in Relation to Approximate Annual Exhibition Budgets.............................................................................................. 96 11. Question 5, Exhibition Installation Schedules.................................................98 12. Question 6, Art Non-profits with Multiple Responses Concerning Staff Positions Responsible for Proposing Exhibitions...........................................101 13. Question 8, Art Non-profits that Borrow Items from Various Lenders 103 14. Question 11, Art Non-profits Answering “Yes” to Instructions on Special Handling being Included................................................................................. 104 15. Question 11, Non-profits Answering “Yes” with respect to Hiring Staff to Supply Advise...................................................................................................106 16. Question 17, Art Non-profits Answering “Yes” to Presence of Hazard Reporting Mechanism....................................................................................... 108 17. Question 15, Fire and Earthquake Emergency Response.............................. 111 LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix Page 1. A Composite Job Description for the Registrar....................................................134 2. Modification of the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to conform with the United Nations' (UN) Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)..................................................................................................136 3. Survey Cover Letter..................................................................................................142 4. Processing Special Materials for Traveling Exhibitions Survey.......................... 144 5. List of Art Non-profits Surveyed.............................................................................147 x 1 Chapter 1: Introduction In many craft-based occupations, such as construction, metallurgy, carpentry, and the like, special or hazardous materials have to be handled and processed on a routine basis. However, a work culture can exist in these professions which, for various reasons, tends to discourage the use of protective equipment such as masks, respirators, or gloves. In turn, this can promote a lack of concern towards toxic material absorption and occupational health in general. Unfortunately, the lack of concern for health and safety can also occur in art schools, amongst individual artists, and in the staff and management of non-profit art organizations in charge of the creation, processing, and install of exhibitions. Many of the aforementioned professions come together when art non-profits develop and implement exhibitions. Hazardous materials that require special handling procedures and an awareness of appropriate procedures and practices are often a part of the exhibition process. Unfortunately