Hazards and warnings
On this Page
To ensure the emotional and physical safety of museum professionals and users, we have included two important sections at the very top of our ‘Evaluative’ section: Content warnings and Hazards.
These sections are important so that you can make an informed decision, before you go any further into the records, as to whether it is safe to engage with the collection item.
Adding content warnings and hazards
The image below shows what you will encounter, as a blank entry, when you first click on the ‘Evaluative‘ tab.
This is an important set of information to complete and read, before you go further into the collection record.
- At the top of the Evaluative tab, you will see a section at the top called ‘Content Warnings‘
- Click in the box to be presented with a scrollable list of content warnings
- Click on the word you require to select it
- Alternatively, type in the word, and click on the word to select it
- To remove the content warning, click the X next to the word
- Add any notes in ‘Further information about the content warnings‘ box below
- You will see a tick list of ‘Hazards‘
- Click the select box to the applicable hazards to add them to the record
Hazards
While you may not need our guidance materials to help understand your hazards, below is a table of hazards we have flagged in the system, including a description and set of collection examples for each one.
Content for the table has been taken from the brilliant ‘Hazards in Collections eTool‘, created by the Museum of London (www.hazardsincollections.org.uk), pages from the Museums Association journal, and Collections Trust guidance documents.
Click to show table of heritage hazard types, descriptions and examples
| Hazard | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | Arsenic is an element sharing properties of metals and non-metals, and occurs naturally as a dark grey/black or yellow solid. Potential exposure to arsenic in museum collections is by handling objects that are contaminated with historic arsenic pesticide and preservative treatments. Handling such objects without adequate precautions will increase the risk of exposure to small amounts of arsenic by ingestion, inhalation or direct contact with the skin. | Art – pigments such as orpiment (yellow), realgar (red), copper-arsenic compounds (vivid green). Costume – dyed / painted textiles, organic adornments e.g. feather or fur. Geology – minerals, e.g. native arsenic, orpiment, realgar, arsenopyrite. Natural history – taxidermy prepared with arsenical soaps and subjected to insecticide treatments. Pharmacy – a stimulant and general remedy until the mid-20th century. Sculpture – although arsenical bronzes are not hazardous. Social history – pesticides (e.g. insecticide, rodenticide), dyed / painted papers (e.g. wallpaper, wrapping paper), artificial flowers, upholstery, table cloth, curtains, etc. in shades of vivid green (e.g. Scheele’s, Schweinfurt and Paris green) throughout the 19th century. World cultures – arsenic-based insecticides on organic materials. |
| Asbestos | Asbestos is the name for various fibrous silicate minerals. Chrysotile (white asbestos), Amosite (brown asbestos) and Crocidolite (blue asbestos) were extensively exploited for manufactured goods from the 19th century onwards. When asbestos is damaged, fibres are broken apart and invisibly release smaller ‘fibrils’ into the air. The size of fibrils enables them to float in the air for prolonged periods, be inhaled into the lungs and potentially cause the development of incurable, fatal, asbestos-related diseases such as cancer and asbestosis. | Architecture – many 20th century construction materials. Geology – asbestos and asbestiform minerals, e.g. actinolite, anthophyllite, amosite, chrysotile, crocidolite, tremolite. Marine vessels – used extensively in thermal insulation and fire protection materials. Military – gas masks and respirators, machine guns, protective clothing. Mining – gas lanterns, emergency rescue breathing apparatus. Modern and contemporary art – artworks using 20th century construction materials. Social history – materials requiring protection from high temperatures, e.g. oven gloves, fire fighters’ clothing, stoves, hairdryers, ironing boards. Rail vehicles – used extensively in locomotives and carriages. Road vehicles – brake linings, clutches, transmissions and exhaust systems. |
| Biological | Biological hazards refer to biological agents that pose a health hazard, such as microorganisms that cause disease. They can include viruses, bacteria and fungi. In the context of museum objects, exposure can occur through the transmission of a viable biological agent from an object to a person during object handling. The routes of exposure for biological agents include inhalation, ingestion or contact with the skin, eyes or mucous membranes. | NB Most biological agents outside a host organism have brief hazardous time spans, often measured in hours or days. A historic pathogen is therefore unlikely. Some objects could be a potential source of surviving biological agents: Archaeology – excavations of burials where soft tissue is well preserved. Contemporary art – recent artworks made with human body fluids. Social history – contaminated food. Storage – Biological agents can contaminate objects in standing water or covered with dirt, bird guano or rodent droppings. |
| Controlled drugs | Controlled drugs are substances that could be considered dangerous if unlawfully acquired, distributed, manufactured and/or used. Most controlled drugs are classified as hazardous substances. E.g. diamorphine (heroin) and amphetamine are extremely toxic, whilst cocaine is moderately toxic and suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child. Historic drugs may also have toxic additives such as lead, arsenic, mercury and strychnine. | NB It is generally thought that historic drugs have not lost any of their potency and should be presumed to be hazardous. Military – field kits, first aid kits, escape and evasion kits, medicine chests. Natural history – plant specimens, e.g. coca leaf, opium poppy heads. Pharmacy – apothecary jars, pharmacy bottles, shop rounds. Science – laboratory chemicals. Social history – prescription medicines, doctor’s bags, opium pipes, recreational drugs. |
| Explosive | Explosives and energetic materials comprise substances that are unstable and can produce a sudden expansion of material, usually accompanied by the production of heat, pressure, a flash, smoke and noise. Some types of explosives have additional hazards, as they may also be made of or contain extremely toxic substances. Old explosive and energetic materials may become increasingly sensitive to vibration, heat, friction, static electricity or chemical reaction and are liable to be more prone to exploding. | Chemistry – shock-sensitive compounds such as peroxides, azides, fulminates, picric acid. Communications / signalling – flares, distress signals, smoke signals. Fire-fighting – self-activating fire extinguishers. Mining / civil engineering – cartridges, charges, detonating cord, detonating fuse. Social history – fireworks, artistic use of cartridges, shells, mortars, rockets or grenades, e.g. ‘trench art’. Theatre, film and television – theatrical pyrotechnics, squibs. Transport – vehicle airbags, railway track detonators, line-throwing rockets, ejection seat systems, solid fuels. |
| Firearm | A firearm is broadly defined in UK law as “a lethal barrelled weapon of any description from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged”. This can include both real and replica objects of any age. – There is a risk of serious injury or death from any projectile propelled from the barrel of a firearm. – An explosion of ammunition or the ignition of a propellant such as gunpowder may cause burns or penetrating injuries. – Unloaded firearms carry a risk of causing injuries from mishandling, e.g. trapped or crushed fingers from a spring mechanism. – Some firearms have asbestos containing materials to protect from high temperatures during use, such as the barrel of a machine gun. – The gun sights of some 20th century firearms contain radioactive substances for illumination. | Communications – e.g. signalling pistols. Hunting or sporting – e.g. pistols, rifles, blow pipes. Maritime – e.g. flare guns. Social history – e.g. police firearms. Veterinary medicine – e.g. captive bolt pistols. |
| Kinetic | ‘Kinetic hazard’ is an object that can cause injury through the (predictable and unpredictable) sudden release of energy. | Glassware under a vacuum, which poses a risk of flying glass Cathode ray tubes – TVs, monitors, oscilloscopes. Thermionic valves / vacuum tubes – radio sets, amplifiers, rectifiers. Vessels containing gases or liquids at greater than atmospheric pressure Aerosol cans – flammable propellant gases. Gas cylinder bottles, valves, regulators and pipework – diving apparatus, laboratory / medical gases. Hydraulic systems – lifting equipment, vehicles, aircraft. Working steam boilers. Fire extinguishers. Heavily deteriorated tinned food – where the can is bulging. Primed mechanisms Firearms. Clockwork devices. Compressed springs. Gravity – for instance, heavy suspended objects. |
| Lead | Lead is a toxic element when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through skin wounds. Lead is also encountered as compounds in metal corrosion products (e.g. white lead carbonate), as pigments (such as red lead, chrome yellow and litharge) and as an additive to modern paints. | Lead will be found in almost any collection. Archaeology – coffins, plaques, figurines, brooches, coins, nails. Architecture – rain water goods, plumbing, roofing, stained glass window panes. Art – lead supports in plaster casts, lead pigments in painting, lead glazes in ceramics. Batteries – lead-acid batteries Costume – textile weights. Medical – x-ray radiation shielding. Natural history – lead paint on taxidermy specimen mounts. Numismatics – coins and medals. Pharmacy – an additive to medicines. Printing – type metal. Social history – painted toys, die-cast figures, shot, fishing weights, pewter tableware, lead crystal glassware, lead batteries, bullets World cultures – decorative metal work. |
| Mercury | Mercury is a dense, silvery metal element that is liquid at room temperature. Commonly encountered compounds of mercury in collections include mercury sulphide (cinnabar and the pigment vermilion), mercuric chloride (corrosive sublimate) and mercurous chloride (calomel). Mercury is toxic by inhalation and ingestion. Repeated exposure may cause cumulative poisoning affecting the nervous system. Soluble inorganic compounds of mercury have a corrosive effect on skin. | The most commonly encountered in measurement devices – thermometers, barometers and hygrometers. Other mercury-containing collections: Art – cinnabar in lacquerware, vermilion pigments. Costume – beaver and rabbit fur felted hats. Dentistry – dental amalgam. Electricity – mercury arc rectifiers. Furniture – tin-mercury silvered mirrors. Herbaria – mercuric chloride treated specimen sheets. Horology – mercury filled clock pendulums. Lighting – fluorescent lamps. Pharmacy – mercury in medicines, calomel, corrosive sublimate treatments. Science – alchemical specimens. Vehicles – mercury ignition switches. |
| Mould | Mould is a common name used to describe numerous species of fungi – organisms responsible for decomposition in nature. Harm may occur if a person is exposed to high levels, if a person has a pre-existing susceptibility to a species of mould (e.g. an allergy), or if a person has a weak or compromised immune system. | Mould can potentially be found on any object material. Although it grows in organic materials (for example, leather, paper and textiles) it can also grow in the layers of dust and dirt on top of inorganic materials such as metal and glass. In the UK, typical conditions for indoor mould growth occur in temperatures between 10 – 35°C and a relative humidity of above 65%. |
| Nitrate | Nitrate film refers to thin, flexible, transparent plastics made from cellulose nitrate to which an emulsion of light sensitive chemicals and gelatine is applied. The discovery of cellulose nitrate plastics in the late 19th century led to the development of photographic roll film. Nitrate film is extremely flammable. It burns rapidly, intensely and produces toxic smoke. Nitrate fires are almost impossible to extinguish. Large fires are likely to be devastating to object collections and buildings. | – Nitrate film can be found in collections and archives containing photographic still and roll film dating from the 1890s. – Nitrate film was manufactured by several companies usually in professional formats, both colour and black-and-white processes, and particularly as x-ray film. – Although nitrate film production was largely discontinued in the early 1950s, film stocks continued to be used for many years afterwards. – Occasionally nitrate film has found other uses – for example, in objects that were designed or intended to easily catch fire. |
| Plastic | Plastics are pervasive in museum collections, and are very unpredictable. A relatively small range of basic plastics exist with many variations in their physical and chemical properties, depending on chemical additives and processing during manufacture. As some types of plastics age they release chemicals called ‘plasticisers‘, as sticky deposits on the surface of the object. Some are toxic, others give off acidic gases which can accumulate in closed boxes. Physical signs of degradation can include the material becoming inflexible, cracking or breaking, warping and distorting, changing colour, exuding liquid or becoming sticky to, giving off distinctive smells (vinegary, from cellulose acetate or plasticky, from the plasticisers in PVC), or corrosion in nearby materials. | There are many examples of plastics you might encounter. 1860s to 1940s: Cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate and casein – simulating ivory, amber, horn, tortoiseshell and coral, often for objects that are held, worn or decorative. Also film (see Nitrate). Phenolformaldehyde – Bakelite, dark colours. Thioureaformaldehyde – light colours, for hardwearing uses. Post-1940s: Nylon, polyester, polystyrene, polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyethylene and polyurethanes – moulded, sheet, foam and film forms with many wide and varied applications. Polymethylmethacrylate (Perspex) / polycarbonate – protective and decorative glass-like uses. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), ureaformaldehyde, urethanes, other co-polymers – resins and for functional objects like furniture. Cellulose acetate – remains popular for handles and spectacle frames. Check out this brilliant plastics ‘identification route map‘ by MODIP: www.modip.ac.uk/projects/toolkit/route-map/route-map-q1 |
| Radioactive | Ionising radiation comes from unstable atoms spontaneously disintegrating and releasing particles and energy that can ionise other atoms they interact with. Ionising radiation carries much more energy than other types of radiation, and therefore has much more potential to cause harm. Substantial exposure to ionising radiation can cause immediate damage to the body, e.g. skin burns, cataracts and sterility. Sources in museum collections are unlikely to be this dangerous, but there is no established safe level of exposure to radiation. Museum objects are more likely to be a hazard internally via ingestion or inhalation of radioactive materials or gases such as radon. | The most commonly encountered are uranium, thorium and radium. Aircraft – radium painted cockpit instruments, thorium metal alloys. Decorative arts – glass tableware containing uranium oxide (uranium glass). Horology – radium painted clocks and watches. Lighting – thorium gas mantles. Marine – radium painted bridge navigation instruments. Medical – ‘quack’ medicines using radium or thorium. Military – depleted uranium ammunition, tritium gunsights. Natural history – uranium and thorium minerals, e.g. autunite, uraninite (pitchblende), monazite. Social history – radium painted alarm clocks and wristwatches, Geissler tubes, tritium emergency exit signs, some smoke detectors. |
| Sharps (medical / scientific) | Sharps are any instrument that can cause injury by cutting, pricking or otherwise penetrating/puncturing the skin. The sharp may be sterile or contaminated with biological, chemical or radioactive material. | You are most likely to encounter these in medical and scientific collections. Blades Knives Hypodermic syringes Needles Pointed forceps Scalpels Scissors |
Content warnings
A list of content warnings has been drawn up from a number of sources, and separated into three main categories: Discrimination, Violence, Body.
Below is a list of potentially harmful content types, with a short definition, that you can attach to each records.
NB Please be mindful of your emotional safety as you go through this list, and stop if you are finding it difficult to read.
A procedure to end a pregnancy.
A fluid or fluid secretion (such as blood, lymph, saliva, semen, or urine) of the body.
The act or fact of dying or being killed; the end of the life of a person or organism.
The act or fact of adult human(s) dying or being killed.
The act or fact of animal(s) dying or being killed.
The act or fact of a child/children dying or being killed.
Diminished control over doing, consuming, taking or using drugs/alcohol, despite the harmful consequences.
Mental disorder defined by abnormal eating behaviours that adversely affect a person’s physical or mental health.
Lights flashing at a rate of 16-25/second can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy.
Content describing or depicting intrusive medical interventions to the body (e.g. surgery, amputation) or the effects of illness on the body (e.g. bed sores, rashes)
The loss of a pregnancy during the first 23 weeks (in humans).
Printed or visual material containing the explicit description or display of sexual organs or activity, intended to stimulate sexual excitement.
The period between conception and birth of a fertilised egg developing in the uterus, followed by the process of giving birth to a baby.
A person causing deliberate injury to themselves.
Death caused by a person injuring themselves with the intent to die.
Discrimination, prejudice and stereotypes towards people with physical, intellectual, or psychiatric disabilities and often rests on the assumption that disabled people need to be ‘fixed’.
Discrimination, prejudice and stereotypes towards others or oneself based on age.
Perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.
Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.
Discrimination, prejudice and stereotypes towards people belonging to a particular social class (Class is not a named protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010).
Discrimination, prejudice and stereotypes towards individuals who have a different skin tones, favouring people with lighter skin over those with darker skin, especially among people of the same ethnic or racial background.
The holding, promotion or advancement extreme political or religious views, or advocacy of illegal, violent, or other extreme measures.
Also: An ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance
Discrimination, fear or prejudice towards those who do not conform to a strict binary system of gender (male/female).
Discrimination, fear or prejudice towards people based on their physical size, (e.g. fat people, short people).
(Spoken or written) speech or address inciting hatred or intolerance towards a particular group on the basis of ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexuality, etc., often to incite hatred or intolerance.
Discrimination, fear or prejudice towards people based on their non-heterogenous sexual orientation
Discrimination, dislike, fear, hostility or prejudice towards Islam and Muslims.
Prejudice, antagonism, or discrimination by an individual, institution, or society, against a person or people on the basis of their nationality or (now usually) their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized.
Also: Beliefs that members of a particular racial or ethnic group possess innate characteristics or qualities, or that some racial or ethnic groups are superior to others; an ideology based on such beliefs.
Discrimination, fear or prejudice towards people with a different religion or belief, or lack of religion or belief.
Discrimination, prejudice and stereotypes, typically against women, on the basis of biological sex.
A preconceived and oversimplified idea of the characteristics which typify a person, situation, etc.; an attitude based on such a preconception.
Also: A person who appears to conform closely to the idea of a type.
The practice or policy of making merely a token effort or granting only minimal concessions, especially to marginalised groups.
Discrimination, fear or prejudice towards transgender people.
The intersection of transphobia and misogyny as experienced by trans women and transfeminine people.
Discrimination, fear or prejudice towards people, cultures, and customs that are foreign, or perceived as foreign.
The deliberate act of a person/people hurting an animal, ranging from physical violence to deliberate mental distress or neglect.
The death penalty for a crime (various contexts).
A person/people maltreating a child, especially consisting of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, or any combination of these.
A migratory movement which, although the drivers can be diverse, involves force, compulsion, or coercion.
A person/people leaving their country for protection, because they are faced with persecution, war or violence.
The deliberate and systematic killing or persecution of people from a particular group identified as having a shared ethnicity, nationality, etc., with the intention of partially or wholly destroying that group.
The act of a person/people killing another person; the crime of causing another person’s death.
The crime of sexual intercourse or cohabitation between persons related within the degrees within which marriage is prohibited; sexual commerce of near kindred.
The act of a person/people taking another person/people away by force or deception, or without the consent of a legal guardian.
Sexual desire directed towards children; sexual activity by an adult with a child.
The intentional act of a person/people physically harming or injuring another person/people.
The intentional act of a person/people subjecting or exposing another person/people to verbal and non-verbal behaviours that may result in psychological harm and trauma.
The act of a person/people forcing or manipulating another person/people into unwanted sexual activity, where they cannot or do not consent. Includes, but not limited to, assault, harassment and rape.
A person/people repeatedly behaving in ways that makes another person/people feel scared, distressed or threatened.
The use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.
The act of inflicting severe physical and psychological pain or suffering on a person/people.
The act of a person/people using physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something.
Current conflict (e.g. Ukraine; Gaza), involving armed fighting between two or more countries or groups.
Historic conflict (e.g. British Civil War; Falklands War), involving armed fighting between two or more countries or groups.