Icon’s ‘Collections Hazards for Conservators’ provides conservators with an overview of commonly encountered hazardous substances found in collections.
The course focuses on the prevention of exposure to these hazards through effective and proportionate control measures, outlining the relevant health and safety legislation and discussing good safety practice when considering conservation work with hazardous collections.
It is recommended that attendees will have previously attended Icon’s ‘Health and Safety for Conservators’.
Programme
Day 1: Safe Handling of Hazardous Collections
24th February 2026, 10:00 - 15:00
Session 1: Essentials of Working Safely with Collections Hazards (10:00 – 10:50)
How to select and prioritise effective and proportionate control measures when faced with the varied risks of collections hazards.
Session 2: Toxic Metals: Lead, Mercury & Arsenic (11:00 - 12:00)
Examples of collections commonly containing toxic metals are presented before a discussion about conducting conservation work safely.
Session 3: Asbestos (13:00 – 14:00)
Examples of collections frequently containing asbestos are presented before a discussion about the relevant legislation. This session does not provide information about how to carry out interventive work on asbestos containing materials.
Session 4: Radioactive Substances (14:10 – 15:00)
Examples of collections containing radioactive substances are presented before a discussion about what conservators should consider prior to work with these collections.
Day 2: Hidden Hazards in Libraries, Archives & Film
25th February 2026, 10:00 - 15:00
Session 5: Controlling Airborne Hazards (10:00 – 11:00)
A simple guide to the control of airborne hazards through Air Monitoring, compliance with Workplace Exposure Limits, and the effective use of Respiratory Protective Equipment and portable Local Exhaust Ventilation.
Session 6: Pesticides & Preservatives (11:10 – 12:00)
Examples of collections contaminated with pesticides and preservatives are presented before a discussion about conducting conservation work safely.
Session 7: Mould (13:00 – 13:50)
The health and safety consequences of mould is considered before a discussion about conducting conservation work safely.
Session 8: Other Library, Archive and Film Hazards (14:00 – 15:00)
Further examples of book, archival and film-based material hazards are presented (including red rot, pigments, contaminants, cellulose nitrate and cellulose acetate) followed by a discussion about conducting conservation work safely.
