Wood dust - Health hazards and control


PURPOSE

This guidance note provides advice on minimising exposure to dust from handling and working with wood.

For the purpose of this guidance note, wood means natural timbers, particleboard (sometimes called chipboard) and fibreboard (also known as Medium Density Fibreboard or MDF).

The Guidance Note does not cover hazards associated with manufacturing particleboard or fibreboard.

BACKGROUND

The manufacture of wood products such as architrave and skirting mouldings, furniture, doors and windows often results in the generation of fine airborne wood particles and dust. Typical wood-working activities that produce dust are machining operations (e.g. sawing, routing, turning) and sanding (hand or machine).

Other sources of breathable wood dust are the bagging of dust from dust extraction systems, using compressed air to blow dust off articles and dry sweeping of factory floors, etc.


MDF VS OTHER FORMS OF WOOD

This guidance note makes no distinction between dust generated from wood and fibreboard or particleboard such as MDF. This decision is based on a comprehensive study conducted in the United Kingdom by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). It concluded that the ill-health effects associated with dust exposure arising from the machining of MDF are no different from those effects arising from machining other forms of wood (see Further Information for details of this report).

It is also important to note that when working with particleboard and fibreboard, there is a low risk of exposure to formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is used in the production of manufactured wood, such as MDF. When first made the unsealed surface of the boards may release some formaldehyde gas, but this quickly dissipates during initial storage.

Information provided by Australian manufacturers of the boards indicates that the release of formaldehyde gas from unsealed boards supplied to workplaces is well below the accepted exposure limits (see Further Information for a reference to National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) Exposure Standards).

WHAT ARE THE HEALTH HAZARDS?

Reported health effects associated with exposure to dust from wood products include:
skin disorders such as allergic dermatitis. Certain timbers are known to produce adverse health effects and sensitisation (see Further Information for a reference to a HSE information sheet on toxic woods)
asthma and impairment of lung function
irritation of the nose, rhinitis (runny nose), violent sneezing, blocked nose and nose bleeds
throat irritation, and sore and watering eyes.

A rare type of nasal cancer has also been reported in people who have worked in very dusty wood-working environments with little or no dust control in place. MANAGING THE RISKS

Controlling the build up of wood dust
The nature of wood-working is such that total elimination of wood dust from the work environment is not usually practicable. However, the health risk associated with exposure to dust from wood products can be minimised through:
using a process or method of work that reduces the generation of dust to a minimum; e.g. using a plane instead of a sander to shape the wood
providing dust capturing equipment to all dust-producing processes; e.g. local exhaust ventilation at wood working machines and dust bags on tools
maintaining plant and equipment in good condition; e.g. inspect local exhaust ventilation systems regularly to ensure they are working efficiently and check for holes and leakages in duct work.

Using alternative woods
The supplier of wood and specialty timbers can provide information, e.g. a material safety data sheet, about any potential health effects of the wood being used. Employers should consider using woods that have similar strength or decorative effects but are less hazardous.

Monitoring dust levels
Even with the use of recommended dust control techniques, it may not be practicable to prevent exposure to wood dust. If there is uncertainty about whether there is a risk to health from exposure to dust from wood products, air monitoring may need to be carried out.

The risk to health needs to be assessed taking into account the nature of the work, duration of exposure and control measures in place. NOHSC occupational exposure standards have been determined for hard woods and soft woods (see also Further Information).
Note: Both the assessment and any subsequent consideration of control options are best carried out in consultation with relevant employees and any health and safety representatives.

Improving housekeeping to minimise dust
Simple changes to work practices can minimise the level of wood dust in the workplace; e.g.
prevent accumulation of dust and wood chips by cleaning/emptying dust collection equipment regularly
use dustless methods for cleaning up such as wet clean up, damping down before sweeping, or using an industrial vacuum cleaner fitted with a HEPA filter. Do not use compressed air to clear work benches or to blow dust off wood products.
implement a 'clean up as you go' policy.

Providing respiratory protective equipment
When other dust control measures are not practicable, a respiratory protective device (RPD) suitable for particulates should be worn. Australian / New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1715 Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective devices provides comprehensive guidance on how to select the correct type of RPD. When selecting a RPD, ensure that the equipment meets an appropriate standard. Look for Australian Standard markings (see AS/NZS 1716 Respiratory protective devices) or equivalent on the respirator or its container.

OTHER SAFETY MEASURES

Provide information, instruction and training; e.g.
obtain health and safety information from the wood supplier or manufacturer and have this readily accessible
inform employees on the hazards and risks associated with exposure to wood dust
train employees on the correct use of control measures adopted at the workplace
supervise employees to ensure that the adopted control measures are being utilised correctly.

Reduce the chance of dust explosion by keeping ignition sources such as flame and sparks away from locations where dust is being generated.

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

All employers have a general duty under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OHS Act) to provide and maintain so far as is reasonably practicable a working environment that is safe and without risks to health.

Manufacturers, importers and suppliers of wood have an obligation under the OHS Act to ensure information about their products is available so that they can be used safely and without risks to health. Such information may be provided in the form of a material safety data sheet.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Acts & Regulations
Acts and regulations are available from Information Victoria on 1300 366 356 or order online at www.bookshop.vic.gov.au/

If you only want to view the legislation you can use the Parliament of Victoria web site; go to www.dms.dpc.vic.gov.au/ , click on "Victorian Law Today" and scroll down to the "Search" window.

Australian Standards
AS 3640 -- 1989: Workplace atmospheres -- Method for sampling and gravimetric determination of inspirable dust

Australian Standards are available from Standards Australia on 1300 654 646, or on-line at www.standards.com.au

WorkSafe Victoria
Useful health and safety information is available on WorkSafe Victoria's web site; go to www.worksafe.vic.gov.au
and click on the WorkSafe Victoria logo. Or contact our Advisory Service on 9641 1444 or toll free 1800 136 089.

Copies of publications, including Codes of Practice, can be obtained by contacting WorkSafe Victoria on 03 9641 1333 or your local WorkSafe Victoria office.

National Occupational Health and Safety Commission
The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) web site provides access to technical data and occupational health and safety information; go to www.ascc.gov.au/OHSLegalObligations/

If you can't find guidance material that gives the solutions or advice you're after, try the national database of guidance material on the NOHSC web page; go to http://natindex.ascc.gov.au/

Health and Safety Executive (UK)
Wordworking Sheet No. 30 -- Toxic Woods

This information sheet can be downloaded from the HSE web site. Go to www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/woodindx.htm
and click on the subject title Toxic Wood. Other useful information relating to woodworking and wood dust can also be obtained at this web address.

Hazard Assessment Document EH75/1 -- Medium density fibreboard
A copy of this document is held at the WorkSafe Victoria Bourke Street Library and can be viewed by contacting the library on 9941 0550 or 9941 0552.



Special Note on Codes of Practice: Codes of Practice made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985 provide practical guidance to people who have duties or obligations under Victoria's OHS laws. The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 allows the Minister for Workcover to make Compliance Codes which will provide greater certainty about what constitutes compliance with the OHS laws.

Codes of Practice will continue to be a practical guide for those who have OHS duties and WorkSafe will continue to regard those who comply with the topics covered in the Codes of Practice as complying with OHS laws. WorkSafe will progressively review all Codes of Practice and replace them with guidance material and in appropriate cases, with Compliance Codes.



Note: This guidance material has been prepared using the best information available to WorkSafe Victoria. Any information about legislative obligations or responsibilities included in this material is only applicable to the circumstances described in the material. You should always check the legislation referred to in this material and make your own judgement about what action you may need to take to ensure you have complied with the law. Accordingly, the Victorian WorkCover Authority extends no warranties as to the suitability of the information for your specific circumstances.


Acts and Regulations


Acts and regulations are available from Information Victoria on 1300 366 356 or order online at www.bookshop.vic.gov.au.

View the legislation at Victorian Law Today: www.legislation.vic.gov.au


Standards Australia


Copies of standards can be obtained by contacting Standards Australia on 1300 654 646 or by visiting the web site at www.standards.com.au.

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