Safety in the Darkroom, the Processing Room and the Studio
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As the name implies, the darkroom is dark!

This does not mean that there are no lights at all, but that it is much darker than a normal workroom and this can be disorienting at first.  Allow a few minutes for your eyes to adjust to the low light levels.

None of the chemicals normally used is hazardous, but basic precautions are advised.  It is possible that someone may be sensitive to developer.

Always clear up and return any equipment to the correct place.

The biggest potential hazard is the combination of electricity and water ... 
this can be fatal.
  • Never put anything wet on the enlarger benches.
  • Always dry hands before using electrical equipment.
  • Never leave bags, coats or other obstacles on the floor.  These could cause people to trip and, for this reason, there should be no stools in a darkroom.
  • Never run in the darkroom.
  • Always turn the enlargers off when not in use.  If left on for any length of time, they can become extremely hot and cause burns.
  • Never take a negative carrier out of an enlarger when the light is on.
  • Always use tongs or disposable gloves when processing film or paper, and always wash hands afterwards.
  • Never take food or drink into the darkroom.
  • Avoid splashing chemicals.
  • Always carry wet prints in a tray and wipe up any spillage immediately.  Return the tray after use.
  • Rinse and return measures.
  • Do not leave liquid in a measure (it is impossible for anyone else to know what it is).
  • Always return the fixer to the correct bottle and never to the bottle labelled Developer.
  • Keep all trailing leas tidy and out of the way.
  • Visually check the condition of leads before plugging lamps into the wall sockets.
  • Tungsten Lamps become very hot and very quickly!  Do not tough the lamps with fingers, or place them too close to other things.  Be particularly careful when using filters or diffusers, and do not put a lamp close to the perspex 'still life' tables - 70cm is the closest safe distance.
  • Do not sit, stand or lie on the 'still-life' tables.  They are not designed to carry much weight.  Do not place heavy or sharp objects - cameras, tripods, bags, etc. on the perspex as it will scratch.
  • Do not touch the paper background rolls.
  • Do not stand on the tables.