Woodworking industries such as sawmilling, manufacture of composite boards, and carpentry are not taking measures to protect workers from the risks of wood dust exposure
The Health and Safety Executive will be undertaking site inspections at woodworking businesses to ensure proper measures are being taken to protect employees from wood dust exposure.
Woodworking industries risk high incidence rates of occupational ill-health caused by employee exposure to inadequately controlled respiratory sensitisers.
This includes dust from softwoods, hardwoods and composite materials in the workplace, such as sino-nasal cancer, occupational asthma and dermatitis.
The new wave of site inspections will run through 2023-24 and are supported by HSE’s Dust Kills campaign.
The campaign provides free advice to businesses and workers on the control measures required to prevent exposure to dust.
In the last year, 78% of woodworking businesses were not compliant
HSE carried out over a thousand inspections at woodworking sites across 2022-23 and found that over three quarters were not sufficiently protecting workers, resulting in 402 enforcement actions taken.
Particular areas of concern were general housekeeping (including dry sweeping of wood dust), Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) maintenance and thorough examination, selection of and face fit testing for Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE), and health surveillance for exposure to wood dust.
There are 19,000 new cases of occupational respiratory issues each year
HSE’s head of manufacturing David Butter said: “Around 12,000 workers died last year from lung diseases linked to past exposure from work, and there are an estimated 19,000 new cases of breathing and lung problems each year, where individuals regarded their condition as being caused or made worse by work.
“Wood dust can cause serious health problems. It can cause asthma, which carpenters and joiners are four times more likely to get compared with other UK workers, as well as sino-nasal cancer. Our campaign aims to help businesses whose workers cut and shape wood to take action now to protect their workers’ respiratory health.”
The new inspections will ensure employees are aware of risks and precautions around wood dust exposure
Throughout 2023/24, inspectors will be looking for evidence that:
employers have considered the control measures required to reduce workers exposure to wood dust
workers understand the risks of exposure to wood dust
effective control measures have been put in place to protect workers from harm
Inspectors will take enforcement action when necessary to make sure workers are protected.
David added: “Through visiting woodworking businesses, our inspectors are able to speak to a range of employers and look at the measures they have in place to comply with the guidance and protect workers from respiratory diseases such as occupational asthma and sino-nasal cancer.
“Our inspection initiative aims to ensure employers and workers are aware of the risks associated with the activities they do. They must recognise these dangers and manage these risks through reducing exposure.
“Employers need to do the right thing, for example, through completing a risk assessment, ensuring workers are trained, reducing exposure using LEV and using suitable RPE to protect workers, where required.”
You can find out more helpful information and guidance on lowering the risk of wood dust exposure here.
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