Expert Insights, Respiratory Protection SeriesRespiratory Protection in the Woodworking Industry: HSE Report suggests urgent improvement is necessary.
An ongoing investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) into exposures in the woodworking industry has thrown up some unwelcome results, showing that there is significant room for improvement in the respiratory safety of the workforce.
Occupational Asthma:
Exposure to any form of wood dust can cause occupational asthma – a condition that most sufferers will manage, but never cure. This kind of asthma can develop either overnight, or over a period of weeks, months or even years, as a result of exposure to wood dust. Sufferers frequently have symptoms such as persistent coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and a tightness of the chest. Although the condition can be managed, there is no cure.
Cancer:
Hardwood dust and MDF are known carcinogens. Prolonged exposure and inhalation may cause cancer of the nasal cavity, sinuses and nasopharynx, as well as leukaemia. It is estimated that around 16% of cancers of the nose and nasal sinuses in men and 2% in women could be due to exposure to wood dust.
Workplace exposure limits:
| Dust type
| Exposure limit mg/m3
|
| Hardwood Dust
| 3
|
| Softwood Dust
| 5
|
| Formaldehyde (occurs naturally in wood)
| 2.5
|
| Mixed Hard/Soft Wood
| 3
|
HSE recommends that despite these limits, substances should in fact be reduced to as low a level as is reasonably practical, through the use of controls: Elimination, Substitution, Engineering Controls and finally, RPE.
The HSE report (RR1211) is an ongoing scientific review of exposure and controls within the industry which found significant exposures: 6% of tests carried out exceeded the softwood exposure limit of 5mg/m3 while 17% exceeded the hardwood/softwood exposure limit of 3mg/m3. The highest single exposure recorded was 23mg/m3!
- The tasks with the highest exposure are sanding and “multitasking” (which can include changing LEV filters, sweeping, hand sanding, or routing).
- The industries with the highest exposure were Furniture Manufacturing, Joineries, Boat Building and Sawmills.
- Larger companies displayed better control measures than smaller businesses.
- None of the companies surveyed achieved a control competency rating greater than 3 out of 5 (3 out of 5 is just adequate) in line with the COSHH essentials guide.
- Workers tend to recognise the concern around MDF and formaldehyde more and apply better controls than they do for hard/soft wood
RPE Use Headline Results
Despite 68% of sites claiming they had completed adequate training, the headline figures are not encouraging:
- 63% of workers RPE use was found to be deficient
- 68% of workers had no face fit testing for respiratory masks
- 63% of workers had facial hair (a respiratory mask relies on cleanshaven skin for an effective face fit)
- 10% of workers were not using the RPE correctly
- Only 27% of sites achieved adequate RPE compliance
- 59% of sites were offering inadequate protection (P1/FFP1 or P2/FFP2 lower protection face masks)
The conclusion from these results can only be that HSE are likely to continue, or even increase their surveillance of the woodworking industry.
If you need advice on your compliance with regulations and provision of respiratory protection from wood dust, Anchor Safety can help you with the following resources:
Free Downloadable RPE Guide – offers advice on hazards, selection of RPE and maintenance.
Download the RPE Guide
Free Downloadable Guide to Beards and RPE – information and products used for protecting those with facial hair from airborne hazards.
Download the Beards & RPE Guide
Call our experts now
Anchor Safety have a range of product solutions from FFP3 masks to Half masks with P3, Powered Air purifying respirators (PAPR) and Airline, offering you a range of solutions that are adequate and suitable for full business compliance with HSE regulations.
Call our experts now for help in overcoming your issues with compliance, ensuring the right product is used correctly in the right situation.
Drager Woodworking Kit
Product Code: H40-59500-KIT15
By respiratory experts Drager UK (Also known as Draeger in Europe), the X-Plore Powered Air Respiratory system is designed specifically for wood dust respiratory protection. This woodworking air purifying powered respirator set, with the most frequently used components for the most common general applications, is ideal for use in woodworking, where the dust raised from MDF, soft and hardwoods can cause serious occupational lung diseases.
- H40-59500 Drager X-Plore 8500 powered blower unit
- H40-59565 Drager X-Plore Standard PAPR Battery
- H40-59780 Drager X-Plore 8000 battery charger
- H40-59700 Drager X-Plore 8000 standard belt
- H40-59730 Drager X-Plore 8000 comfort pad power unit belt
- H40-59600 Drager X-Plore 8000 flexible hose for hoods
- H40-39535 Drager X-Plore 8000 PRSL filter
- H40-39730 Drager X-Plore 8000 prefilter (pack of 10)
- H40-59900 Drager X-Plore 8000 polycarbonate visor
- H40-50787 Drager X-Plore 8000 Polycarbonate Visor
View the PAPR Kit for Woodworking
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