72 | Feature: Wood Dust Exposure


SUMMARY


■Exposure to wood dust falls under COSHH 2022


■WELs vary depending on whether the dust is from hardwood, softwood or composite wood


■The main control measure is local exhaust ventilation


■RPE should have a minimum assigned protection factor of 20


HEALTH AND SAFETY DUSTING OFF


Kevin Underwood, technical director of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) explores best practice when keeping employees safe from wood dust exposure


As professionals within the woodworking and joinery sector, we know that wood dust is hazardous to health and can have serious consequences. In fact, it is known to cause diseases such as asthma, with carpenters and joiners four times more likely to be diagnosed with the condition compared with other UK workers (https://www.hse.gov.uk/asthma/ index.htm). For this reason, exposure to wood dust falls under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2022 (COSHH).


Here I explore best practice for controlling and minimising dust exposure in the workplace to help keep all employees safe.


REDUCING EXPOSURE IN THE WORKPLACE


By following the eight principles of good practice control as set out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), adequate control of wood dust can be achieved and exposure levels can be dramatically reduced. The good news is that things can be kept simple. Measures to control dust exposure are the same regardless of the type of wood being machined, even though the health effects from exposure, and the specific Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs), vary depending on whether the dust is from hardwood, softwood or composite wood such as chipboard and fibre board.


Above: Kevin Underwood is the BWF’s technical director TTJ | May/June 2023 | www.ttjonline.com


The main control measure to ensure that wood dust is managed at its source on machinery is local exhaust ventilation (LEV). It’s vital the LEV is sufficient for the machinery and operations being conducted,


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