Reasons Why Woodworking Shops Should Use Ducting

Woodworking is a rewarding craft, but knowing the potential health risks associated with wood dust exposure is crucial. Regular exposure to wood dust can lead to several major health issues, including asthma and cancer. In addition, combustible wood dust poses a fire and explosion hazard. In this article, we will explore the risks of wood dust exposure, the operations that cause high levels of exposure, the exposure limits, and how Nordfab can help manage wood dust in the workplace.

The Health Risks of Wood Dust Exposure

People exposed to wood dust regularly face significant health risks. For example, woodworkers are four times more likely to develop asthma than UK workers. Hardwood dust, particularly, has been linked to increased cancer risk, especially in the nose. In addition, the settled dust containing tiny particles poses a particular danger to the lungs. Wood dust exposure may also lead to specific skin conditions, adding to health concerns.

Fire and Explosion Hazard

In addition to the health risks, combustible wood dust can be a serious fire and explosion hazard. Every year, wood dust fires originating in dust extraction equipment cause severe damage or even demolition of structures and equipment. Therefore, taking measures to prevent and mitigate this risk in the workplace is essential.

Operations Causing High Wood Dust Exposures

Certain woodworking operations produce high levels of wood dust exposure, especially when performed daily over extended periods. These operations include:

1. Sawing, routing, or turning operations on wood.
2. Sanding, whether done by hand or machine.
3. Blowing dust from furniture using compressed air.
4. Machined or sanded component assembly by hand.
5. Operations involving cutting or treating composite boards, such as MDF.
6. Handling and bagging wood dust produced by dust collection equipment or extraction systems.
7. Sweeping up wood dust from floors or thorough dust removal.

Exposure Limits of Wood Dust

To protect employees from the potential health risks of wood dust, it is essential to adhere to the?Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations of 2002. These regulations set workplace exposure limits (WELs) that should never be exceeded. The WEL for hardwood and softwood dust is 5 mg/m3, representing the acceptable dust level in the air averaged during an ordinary 8-hour workday.

Managing Wood Dust Exposure

As COSHH requires, woodworkers must conduct thorough risk assessments in all work areas. It is crucial to take action to prevent or appropriately manage exposure to wood dust and provide the necessary?safety gear?for employees.

How Nordfab Can Help

At Nordfab, we understand the importance of managing wood dust in the workplace. We offer a range of solutions to help create a safe working environment when working with wood, including:

1. Extraction hoods?are designed to remove wood dust from the workplace effectively.
2. Drop out boxes?that stop large wood chips in the airstream.

No matter the specific challenge you face regarding wood dust, Nordfab has a solution.?Contact us?today to ensure a safe working environment and protect the health of your employees when working with wood.