Flash and Gun Powder ?

[Olix23]

Hi there, Im just starting a new university project and am setting up a new project which will be hopefully following the work of a local gunsmith. I was intending to use a few flashes, probably the uni broncolours but I had a thought could the high electrical current of the lights mixed with an environment which is very likely to have gun powder residue all over the place going to be a recipe for disaster? I could get away with using speed lights if they are not going to be as much as a problem but would rather the broncolours. Any experience or advice would be much appreciated, I've had a quick butchers online and can't seem to find any relevant information as obviously quite a specialist question.
Thanks
obviously shall be running it through with my tutor on monday to see what he thinks but in the mean time thought I'd throw it up on here.

 

[BigJohn]

Garry Edwards is your man for this with a vast experience in both lighting and guns. I'm sure that he can guide you somewhat.

 

[MidnightUK]

Perhaps worth consulting the Gunsmith himself as well. Even if its deemed safe, he may not feel its worth the risk. Presumably he must have some kind of safe store area for anything explosive though or his insurance company would be a mass of anxiety as would any neighbours!

Modelling lights on studio flashes cans apparently sometimes explode so you might want to take that into account as well.

Could heat be a trigger as well? If it can be, then traditional continuous studio lights may be an issue too.

Just guessing but perhaps LED video lights might be safer as they are fairly cool and low powered.

 

[Phil V]

As above, a perfect question for @Garry Edwards

 

[Alastair]

Speak to the gunsmith. Go take a look around the workshop. Don't assume. Most craftsmen will be a lot tidier than the average student. Most people working with gunpowder are going to respect it, if they want to keep their eyebrows and eardrums.

The regulations you maybe should familiarise yourself with are DSEAR and the relevant equipment ratings are ATEX.

Get your a**e over to the workshop and look to see what type of light fittings are used in the area. Are they ATEX rated? What does the gunsmith think? Get him to advise you on your risk assessment.

 

[MartynK]

I'm not sure I understand your question.

What do you mean by 'gun powder residue'? This normally refers to GSR, which doesn't present any risk at all, but I think you have something else in mind?

 

[Alastair]

What do you mean by 'gun powder residue'? This normally refers to GSR, which doesn't present any risk at all, but I think you have something else in mind?

I think he assumes that the gunsmith may be liberally spilling gunpowder around the workshop as a result of his gunsmithing activities.

I'm not entirely convinced the OP knows what a gunsmith does.

 

[MartynK]

I think he assumes that the gunsmith may be liberally spilling gunpowder around the workshop as a result of his gunsmithing activities.

I'm not entirely convinced the OP knows what a gunsmith does.

No, neither am I.

 

[troutfisher]

If he is a normal gunsmith he will be making either rifles or shotguns and most probably shotguns.
I either case the nearest they come to explosive propellant during manufacture ( not gunpowder aka blackpowder ) is when they are sent to the proof house

 

[Garry Edwards]

Typically, gunsmith repair either rifles or guns, but not normally both. Technically, gunsmithing also covers manufacture but it's usually repairs that they do. Typically, they are likely to have some propellent around, but not a lot.

I've already been asked the question, here is the answer I gave
" Gunpowder (AKA black powder) is classed as an explosive. Although the formulae doesn't change, it is available in many different forms. The actual powder is very easy to ignite so in theory there could be some danger, but mostly, it's supplied in granule form, a bit like instant gravy, and mostly the granules are pretty coarse, and it take a lot to set them off.

Black powder is only used in antique weapons, which are not proofed for modern propellents. All modern (post about 1944) weapons use nitro powder or granules instead, and although they burn fiercely they are not explosive, so the only danger is from fire, unless they have nowhere to go, i.e. in a gun barrel.

Nothing is ever entirely without risk but IMO there is no real danger with any modern flash unit if the material is Nitro, and very little with black powder.

BTW, I know about this because I'm a shooter as well as a lighting man.

Regards,

Garry"

 

[Olix23]

Not sure why you're assuming I don't know what a gun smith does, I'm not thinking they are running an ammunition factory. But as part of the uni risk assessment I have to think of every likely risk and assess it and hope create preventive measures which means I can still do the shoot. I've never worked with a gunsmith or seen ones workshop so personally don't know the extent of his work at the moment. I will be requesting a copy of his risk assessment in relation with Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which I will also be able to show to my tutor. As well as asking his opinion and thoughts on whether he thinks the flash will be suitable in his workshop, but that final decision will have to be his. Thanks to those who replies where helpful.

 

[sk66]

But as part of the uni risk assessment I have to think of every likely risk and assess it and hope create preventive measures which means I can still do the shoot.

It's called "risk management" and not "risk elimination"... there must be some level of acceptable risk and I would guess it's quite low already.

 

[Alastair]

As I said, get your a**e to his workshop, you can't write a RA from your desk and your can't rely on his existing RAs covering your activity.

If your flash was going to be a problem, not only would your flash need to be ATEX rated but so would your camera and any other equipment. That's the nature of DSEAR. But I doubt this is going to be a problem.