RR1211: Wood dust exposures in manufacturing industries
Exposure to wood dust of any type can cause asthma and dermatitis, whilst exposure to hardwood dust can also cause sinonasal cancer. Wood dust exposures in woodworking manufacturing were surveyed by HSE in 1999-2000 (Black et al, 2007). In 2014-2017, a further survey was carried out to update HSE’s knowledge on exposure to wood dust in woodworking manufacturing, excluding sites considered to have poor standards of health and safety. Occupational hygiene surveys and telephone interviews were carried out to:
- Establish an exposure dataset characterising good control practice.
- Identify practical exposure control improvements.
- Better understand how to influence small and mediumsized woodworking manufacturing enterprises to improve exposure control.
This report includes results on:
- Exposure levels in manufacturing and boat building and repair.
- An assessment of the use of control measures.
- A review of the approaches and challenges in influencing improved control of wood dust exposures.
These woodworking manufacturing sites that ostensibly were following good practice were still found to be deficient in some aspects of control in comparison to HSE guidance. Some exposures exceeded the workplace exposure limit. This research suggests that one option that could be considered would be for updated guidance to be made available.
This report and the work it describes were funded by the Health and Safety Executive. Its contents, including any opinions and/or conclusions expressed, are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect HSE policy.
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