Nitrate film: handling considerations
The handling of cellulose nitrate film is done either to show a movie that is on it, or to reformat it to safety film or digital. More often, reformatting is the reason nitrate is handled. Because it is such a dangerous substance to work with, many safety considerations need to be taken before, during, and after.
Before:
- Make sure workspace is cool, well ventilated, and away from office areas and collections.
- Have necessary equipment on hand: nitrile gloves; rolls of unprinted newsprint; washable smocks; work tables and chairs. specially-fitted, rated breathing apparatus for individuals who have breathing issues.
- Never work with nitrate film in a hot, unventilated space, or near sparks or other ignition sources. The fumes from nitrate film are extremely toxic and flammable.
- Keep film in good order: spending time looking for out-of-place film shortens its life by exposing it to warmer air.
During
- Keep logs of who is working on nitrate film and any problems encountered during work, like odors or illness.
- Work on a surface that is easily cleaned, or on layers of newspaper that can be disposed of at the end of the day.
- Wear nitrile gloves and a long-sleeve smock.
- If there is odor from the film, or you experience irritation, wear a fitted breathing device.
- Don’t touch your hair, eyes, mouth, or nose while working with film.
- Don’t wear contact lenses, as gases from film can build up on them and injure eyes.
After
- Wash all surfaces that come in contact with film with 1 teaspoon baking soda to 1 part water to neutralize acids.
- Wash smock at least once a week.
- Continue to inspect film in storage once a month for signs of deterioration.
(U. S. Department of Interior, National Park Service, 2004)