Anyone who has ever had a sheet of plywood sitting on the counter in the garage should know that all those razors come in handy.
The Health and Safety Executive thought so, arguing that many logging companies are putting their workers' lives at risk by failing to prevent their workers from being exposed to wood dust.
Supported by HSE Dust Kills, which provides free advice to businesses and workers on the controls needed to prevent dust exposure, UK HSE inspectors will visit companies in the wood industry such as sawmills and composite panel manufacturers. and carpentry, focus on dust control, check employers and workers, know the hazards, plan your work and use appropriate controls.
The HSE states that there are thousands of cases of preventable lung disease each year linked to previous exposure to dust at work. This disease is often life-changing and can lead to premature death.
Over the course of this year and next, inspectors will look for evidence that the employer has considered controls to reduce worker exposure to wood dust and understands the risks of wood dust exposure to workers, and will take enforcement action if necessary.
As of 23/2022, the HSE has carried out more than 1,000 carpentry inspections and found that 78% of businesses did not meet requirements to protect workers from wood dust, resulting in 402 enforcement actions. Most of these procedures are performed with appropriate respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and local exhaust ventilation (LEV).
HSE production manager David Butters said: “About 12,000 workers died from work-related lung diseases last year, and an estimated 19,000 new respiratory and lung problems occur each year because of people's awareness of their condition. how bad by or because of work, it also worsens.
"Wood dust can cause serious health problems. It can lead to asthma, which is four times more common among carpenters and joiners than other workers in the UK, and nasal cancer in China. Our campaign aims to help logging and forest management companies. take immediate measures to protect the health of the worker's respiratory system;
Michael Thomas, Senior Building Inspector at the HSE, added: “By working closely with people on the ground, we can ensure they see the job through from start to finish, consider hazards at every stage and manage risks through effective measures. It follows a broad hierarchy of management options such as water subsidence, mining and RPE as a last resort.
