Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk THE door industry journal summer 2023 Industry News 10 Three Steps to Remove the Risk of Dust Exposure Kevin Underwood, Technical Director of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) Removing and controlling the risk of dust exposure in the workplace is a legal obligation for all woodworking and joinery businesses, in the UK. Wood dust is hazardous to health and is known to cause or exacerbate diseases such as asthma, with carpenters and joiners four times more likely to be diagnosed with the condition compared with other UK workers. Due to the serious consequences, exposure to wood dust falls under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2022 (COSHH). So, what steps should employers take to control and minimise dust exposure in the workplace? Step 1: Implement simple control measures. Although 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, the measures to control dust exposure are the same regardless of the type of wood being machined. Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) is the main control measure to ensure that wood dust is managed at its source on machinery. The LEV needs to be sufficient for the machinery and operations being conducted, well-maintained and tested by a competent LEV engineer at least every 14 months to ensure its performance. However, in some circumstances, LEV alone does not provide adequate dust control. When certain machines are in use, such as bandsaws, circular saws and fixed sanding machines, Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) is also needed. 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. It’s important to note that more often than not RPE is needed in addition to, not in place of, LEV. Employers should risk assess the machinery and operation to determine the protection required. Dry sweeping and compressed air should not be used for the collection or clearing of wood dust. When 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. When there are larger offcuts and chips, these should be shovelled or vacuumed using attachments with pre-filters or mesh to prevent blockages. Step 2: Protect employees using portable tools. Using the correct classification of a dust extraction system is crucial to minimising dust exposure when working onsite or using portable tools in the workshop. 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. L-class units and commercial vacuums are unsuitable for wood dust as they do not offer the correct filtration or incorporate a low-flow indicator. Power tool manufacturers often 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 as they do not need to be plugged in or switched on. The use of Bluetooth-enabled extractors which can be turned on without having to go back to the machine can make this easier, particularly when working on larger sites. Step three: Monitor health effects. In addition to ensuring preventative health and safety measures are in place, any potential health effects on employees must be detected as early as possible. This can be achieved by implementing a health surveillance programme that covers all workers who might breathe in wood dust. To support this, businesses should seek advice from an occupational health professional who has the relevant skills, knowledge 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. The BWF are a campaign partner of HSE’s ‘Dust Kills’ campaign, which provides free advice to businesses and workers on the control measures required to prevent exposure to dust. 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 & safety in the workplace, visit: www.bwf.org.uk/health-and-safety-in-the-woodworking-industry/
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