Posted By David Bannister Nasal cancer is horrible, as is chronic lung disease (oxygen bottles are cumbersome). The respirable portion of the dust i.e. that which actually enters the lungs and does the damage is very fine, is probably not seen and travels considerable distances, affecting not only the user but also others in the vicinity. The larger particles will eventually fall to the ground but the damage is still being done. A sweep up after work is great for housekeeping purposes but does nothing to prevent the exposure to the harmful wood dust, plus the poor person who has to push the brush is getting still more exposure. A vacuum cleaner is more appropriate but extraction at source is much better. The Improvement Notice will probably have cited the COSHH Regs which requires exposure to harm to reduced. Sweeping up will not achieve this. HSE has loads of good information on its website: http://www.hse.gov.uk/woodworking/dust.htm

Posted By John Richards Not to mention the [much] higher risk of fire and explosion. You could also play-down the nasal cancer risk by only using softwoods....or maybe try extraction ;-) http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/wis1.pdf

Posted By Stephen J Barnes As an occupational hygienist, I would advise you to control all wood dusts at source if possible. Cleaning fine dusts with a HEPA filtered industrial vacuum cleaner will minimise re-distribution of dust in the workplace. An effective control strategy will include other elements such as health surveillance and PPE - RPE to minimise exposure. Most orbital sanders can be fitted with dedicated hoods - connected via a flexible hose to a high velocity low volume extract/filtering system. Please contact me 'off forum' if you require further advice on suitable HVLV LEV systems, statutory testing & examination, personal exposure assessment (post-improvement!)and health surveillance requirements - sbarnes@oakenvsol.com

Posted By Jane Bastow Dust from both hard and soft woods are dangerous to health. Hard wood dust is a Carcinogen and an Asthmagen (Respiratory sensitiser - cause of occupational ashthma.) It is a common mistake to think that soft wood dust is harmless. Softwood is an Asthmagen (Respiratory sensitiser - cause of occupational ashthma). The exposure limits (WEL) of both hard and soft wood dust is the same: 5mg over an 8 hour time weighted average but because of the hazardous nature of the dust it is not sufficient to reduce exposure to below the WEL - it has to be as far below the WEL as far as reasonably practicable. The 5mg has been under review for several years and is expected to reduce in line with other countries to around 2 or 3mg. Collection of the dust at source is usually the best way forward. The problem with the bags on orbital sanders is the reluctance of users to work with them. Whatever system you adopt it will only reduce exposure if the operatives are comfortable using it. A solution that often works well with orbital sanders is LEV with a down draught table - where the piece worked on is placed on the table top and extraction is down through the table top surface and the piece can be worked on through an enclosure. This is of course no good if you are working on items too large to place on the work top. In which case a booth or room with extraction through the floor can work. Don't forget that who ever provides the LEV you must insist on a proper commissioning LEV assessment, staff training, log book, manual and proof of the reduced exposure of the operatives when the system is installed. Read 'Clearing the Air' INDG408 downloadable from HSG website http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg408.pdf Often consultants don't have sufficient practical experience to be able to provide workable real life solutions, so you should also call in a selection of manufacturers and listen to their proposals too.

Posted By Stephen J Barnes Your consultant occupational hygienist should be capable of judging whether you have a dust problem before carrying out any exposure monitoring. I take it they have visited your site to assess your requirements before quoting for the work? They should also be able to advise on appropriate control techniques and LEV design. Unless you have been specifically asked to quantify current exposures, you could save the cost of a repeat survey by assessing exposures after you have improved controls. If you would like to discuss the matter 'off forum' please contact me at sbarnes@oakenvsol.com