Wood dust

Controlling the risk

This information sheet is aimed at local exhaust ventilation (LEV) users within the woodworking industry. It provides practical guidance on the health and safety risks from wood dust and how to control them.

It will also help employers to ask the right questions when dealing with LEV designers and suppliers.

This revision contains new information on the use of airflow indicators and dust lamps as well as advice on how to improve dust control on circular saws.

WIS23(rev3) replaces the earlier version of WIS23 as well as WIS24 LEV: Dust capture at sawing machines, WIS25 LEV: Dust capture at fixed belt sanding machines, WIS26 LEV: Dust capture at fixed drum and disc sanding machines and WIS1(rev1) Wood dust: Hazards and precautions.