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Above: Local exhaust ventilation and, if necessary, respiratory protective equipment keep employees safe PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK
that it is well-maintained, and tested by a competent LEV engineer at least every 14 months to ensure its performance. However, for certain machines such as bandsaws, circular saws and fixed sanding machines, LEV alone does not provide adequate dust control. This is where respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is also needed. To provide protection, the RPE should have a minimum assigned protection factor (APF) of 20, and the RPE should be correctly fitted, with each user receiving appropriate training and undergoing face fit testing.
In the majority of situations RPE is needed in addition to, not in place of, LEV. However, employers should risk assess the machinery and operation to determine the protection required, as there may be circumstances where it’s not necessary to have both. This could be the case if only a single piece of timber is to be cut on a cross-cut saw, as it might be impractical to wear RPE for a single, infrequent operation. Other operations that require the use of RPE with a minimum APF of 20 include manual sanding, use of portable power tools or changing dust extraction bags. For clearing surfaces of wood dust and debris a dust class M or H type portable dust extractor or suction hose attached to the LEV should be used. Dry sweeping and compressed air should not be used for the collection or clearing of wood dust. In instances where there are larger offcuts and chips, these should be shovelled or vacuumed using attachments with pre-filters or mesh to prevent blockages.
PROTECTION FROM PORTABLE TOOLS When working onsite or using portable tools in the workshop, using the correct classification of dust extraction system is crucial to minimising dust exposure. All power tool extraction systems will be classified as either low (L), medium (M) or high (H). The HSE states that for construction applications H or M class units are suitable when fitted with a low-flow indicator (
https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cis69.htm). L class units and commercial vacuums do not offer the correct filtration or incorporate a low-flow indicator, making them unsuitable for wood dust.
Often, power tool manufacturers offer a range of portable extraction systems that are designed to plug directly into their corded tools. This means that when the power tool is turned on, so is the extractor. However, this is not the case for all power tools, particularly cordless versions. This is because they do not need to be plugged in or switched on. The use of Bluetooth-enabled extractors can make this easier, particularly when working on larger sites, with a button attached to the hose or cuff where it attaches to the tool that can turn the extractor on without having to go back to the machine.
HEALTH SURVEILLANCE
In addition to thorough health and safety measures, it’s important for businesses to identify any potential health effects on employees as early as possible. This can be done by having a suitable health surveillance programme in place that covers all workers
who might breathe in wood dust. To support with this, businesses should seek advice from an occupational health professional who has the relevant skills, competence and experience for health risks in woodworking.
Managing dust exposure correctly to ensure it is minimised helps maintain the health and well-being of all those in the woodworking and joinery profession. By adopting the guidance as set out by the HSE and seeking advice from trusted trade associations, you can be confident that your business is putting its employees’ health first.
For more helpful resources from the British
Woodworking Federation on health and safety in the workplace, visit:
https://www.bwf.org. uk/health-and-safety-in-the-woodworking- industry/ ■
Above: Wood dust is hazardous to health PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK
www.ttjonline.com | May/June 2023 | TTJ
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