Wood dust

Reported health effects of exposure to dust from wood products include:

• skin disorders such as allergic dermatitis, since certain timbers are known to cause harmful effects and sensitisation
• asthma and impaired lung function
• nasal cancer associated with hardwood dust
• nose irritation, rhinitis (runny nose), violent sneezing, a blocked nose and nosebleeds
• throat irritation, and sore, watering eyes

Occupations at increased risk of exposure to wood dust include:

• workers in logging, sawmills, furniture making and cabinet making
• carpenters
• cleaning or maintenance staff, where wood dust is made or stirred up again
• construction workers
• shipbuilding workers

Precautions to avoid the effects on health:

• eliminate the risk by buying pre-cut or processed wood
• local exhaust ventilation (LEV) is one of the most effective ways of controlling dust at source. Use LEV to capture dust from cutting, shaping and sanding wood by hand or machine
• use on-tool extraction on saws and grinders
• follow the manufacturer's instructions for the use and maintenance of equipment, for example use the correct saw blade or planer for the task
• use water damping where practical
• do not use blowers, fans or compressed air to move wood dust
• provide a suitable industrial vacuum to remove dust from work areas
• limit the time each person spends on dusty work
• advise workers to wear respiratory protective equipment (RPE) when emptying vacuum cleaner bags or collection bags, because exposure to wood dust can be high
• make sure workers wear RPE and other PPE suited to the task, and advise them to take off work clothing such as overalls carefully at the end of the task or shift so that no dust clouds are made
• provide washing facilities at work so that dust is not taken home
• advise workers to wash their face and hands straight after finishing the task and before eating, drinking or smoking

Further Reading

• Ambient factors in the workplace, ILO Code of Practice
• Asbestos: the survey guide (HSG264)
• Blood-borne viruses in the workplace: guidance for employers and employees (INDG342)
• Chemical hazards, OSHA factsheet
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), ACoP and guidance (L5)
• Controlling airborne contaminants at work: a guide to local exhaust ventilation (HSG258), second edition, 2011
• EH40/2005 Workplace exposure limits
• ILO Asbestos Convention and Recommendation (C162 and R172), 1986
• ILO Chemicals Convention and Recommendation (C170 and R177), 1990
• ILO Occupational Cancer Convention and Recommendation (C139 and R147), 1974
• ILO Occupational Health Services Convention and Recommendation (C161 and R171), 1985
• Managing asbestos in buildings: a brief guide (INDG223)
• Occupational exposure to airborne substances harmful to health, ILO Code of Practice
• Personal protective equipment at work, second edition: Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, guidance on regulations
• Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)
• Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP)
• Respiratory protective equipment at work: a practical guide (HSG53), current HSE edition
• Safety in the use of chemicals at work, ILO Code of Practice, 1993, sections 6 and 7
• The health and safety toolbox: how to control risks at work (HSG268)

Summary notes for Element 7 · Cheat sheet · Glossary. A study aid, not published or endorsed by NEBOSH.