Research Into Wood Dust Exposure in Manufacturing

The HSE recently released a research study looking at wood dust exposure in manufacturing. Wood dust can cause health problems for those working in any manufacturing that involves wood. Individuals can inhale wood dust particles, which can go into the lungs, causing illnesses such as asthma and cancer. Additionally, nose cancer is a risk associated with dust particles getting stuck in the nasal cavity.

This builds on a previous study conducted by the HSE in 1999-2000, which surveyed manufacturing sites to measure wood dust exposure levels. This new report follows up by examining 22 sites between 2014 and 2017. The research sought to identify practical exposure control improvements, establish an occupational exposure dataset, better understand woodworking manufacturing, and obtain data on exposure to isocyanate lacquer and paints.

In this study, researchers selected sites that were regarded as maintaining good occupational hygiene practices and then followed up these visits with telephone interviews with health and safety managers at 15 of these sites. The findings indicated that, while the majority of sites have improved their wood dust exposure controls since the 1999-2000 study, challenges remain. In particular, a number of the sites had exposures exceeding the workplace exposure limit.

The research highlights the need to continue to reinforce good working practices and manage exposure to wood dust in manufacturing. Exposure limits, based on an 8-hour time-weighted average, are 3 mg/m³ for hardwood dust and 5 mg/m³ for softwood dust.

Some good practices that can help manage the risk of wood dust include:

• Use of Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) to capture dust directly from woodworking machines rather than letting it spread across the workplace.
• Enclosing woodworking machines to minimise the ability of dust to spread.
• Undertaking wet cutting/sanding to reduce the ability of dust to become airborne.

Workers should be trained in these techniques, and LEV systems should be maintained and inspected at least every 14 months to ensure proper functioning. Additionally, any remaining dust should be cleaned using vacuum systems rather than sweeping, as sweeping can make dust airborne again. Where necessary, workers should wear respiratory protective equipment (RPE) appropriate to the task and individual. Finally, implementing a health surveillance program can help detect health issues related to wood dust exposure early on. Health surveillance enables quicker intervention and treatment, helping prevent long-term health issues for employees.

If you have any questions or would like support with managing issues at your workplace, please speak to your usual contact or get in touch using the form below.