I want to provide a customer with a brief guide on the hazards of MDF. The HSE FAQ guide is rather long, with technical detail, so I'm writing a summary for a toolbox talk/leaflet. Just looking for comment, have I sufficiently described the hazards and the protection necessary?

Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) HSE guidance:  http://www.hse.gov.uk/woodworking/faq-mdf.htm

Summary

MDF is wood fibre board, where wood fibre has been bonded rigid using synthetic resin.

Machining or sanding MDF board produces wood dust and fumes of free formaldehyde. On the dust particles there will be adsorbed formaldehyde and resin binder.

Under current UK legislation wood dust and formaldehyde are considered to be hazardous to health and may cause asthma and other respiratory problems, and formaldehyde is classified as a suspected carcinogen.

The levels of free formaldehyde in boards made within the EU are considered to be insignificant.

Wood based panels, such as MDF, that are used in construction should be CE marked and formaldehyde levels should be declared as E1 or E2, both are low level formaldehyde content.

There should be an effective dust extraction system (LEV) in use whenever MDF is machined or sanded.

Use vacuum cleaners with high performance filters (HEPA) to clean up any MDF dust, or use a hose connected to the LEV system.

Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) should also be available if needed, if close to the machining, and when vacuuming and servicing any LEV equipment. Users must ensure RPE fits properly by having it ‘face fitted’, and by being clean shaven.

An FFP3 RPE mask is the most advisable type to have if you could be exposed to high levels of dust and one combined with an organic vapour filter will also provide protection against any formaldehyde vapours that are present.

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David,

I have worked with customers who do some woodworking and exposure to dust and formaldehyde is 'known about' in the trade. Some customers use CNC routers which are enclosed but there's always risk of exposure, and some dust collectors trap the dust but may be releasing the formaldehyde into the workshop.

The HSE guidance suggests the formaldehyde hazard is not significnat with MDF.

Also, an MSDS from an MDF supplier will usually say in section 2:

and the user then doesn't bother to look at section 8 which may say:

So if I am their safety adviser, I feel some informed explanation is necessary from me.

John

Think you need to go back to your supplier and ask for a legal Safety Data Sheet

Risk & Safety Phrases should no longer appear - they were fully replaced in June 2015 by Hazard and Precautionary Statements

MEL's (Maximum Exposure Limit) also no longer exist you are meant to be reducing exposure ISFAIRP - EH40 lists LTEL TWA 8hr & STEL TWA 15min

Section 8 of an SDS should also now include DNEL (Derived No Effect Limit - human health) and PNEC (Perceived No Effect Concentration - environmental fate) with the former looking at local & systemic effects for various exposure routes in both workers and the general public

Most "article" suppliers have been very poor in correctly adopting REACH/CLP as have their supply chains

Edited by user 05 December 2017 13:11:53(UTC)  | Reason: FFS

Quite right Roundtuit !

ABSTRACT - Formaldehyde, Hazard via inhalation route (DNEL)

Local effects - Long term exposure (worker)  0.375 mg/m³ (general population) 0.1 mg/m³

Local effects - Acute/short term exposure (worker) 0.75 mg/m³

SCOEL recommendation: OEL = 0.3 ppm (0.37 mg/m³), STEL = 0.6 ppm (0.75 mg/m³)

E2 "CE marked" boards must emit less than 0.3 ppm formaldehyde

Most significant hazard from working CE marked MDF would be the wood dust