Australian Wood Panels Association (AWPA) offers measures for the protection of workers from wood dust. Long term exposure to wood dust can harm health, irrespective of the type of wood product – solid wood, particleboard, MDF or plywood. All wood dust is classified as carcinogenic - that is, there is a risk of nasal cancer from high level, long-term exposure. Simple precautions can ensure workers stay safe.
The scientific evidence
Studies in both the UK and by AWPA’s CSIRO, have found no inherent difference between dust generated by machining or cutting wood panels or solid timber.
When it comes to the safety of wood dust, there is no real difference between any form of wood or wood product. It is how the dust is controlled that determines a healthy work environment.
Worker Protection
Wood dust can be controlled easily, if management ensures that a few simple procedures are in place such as: provide normal ventilation; provide HEPA vacuum cleaners and assign responsibility and frequency for clean up; ensure that compressed air is never used to remove wood dust; set out the method and frequency of maintenance of dust extraction equipment including dust bags on hand power tools as well as major fixed equipment; and provide the correct personal protection equipment and train operators in their use.
Workers just need dust masks and safety glasses (and probably ear protection, since this equipment is usually noisy). Gloves can also be offered, since occasionally workers may be sensitive to certain wood species and experience skin irritation.
Ensuring on-going safety
To test how easily Australian workplaces can conform to safe limits, AMCOSH Occupational Health Services conducted an occupational hygiene evaluation at 33 workplaces across Australia. A total of 159 wood dust samples were taken. All results were less than half the safe limit of 1.0 mg/ m3, except for a few high readings from areas, where the exhaust dust collection system was not operating properly.