Health and Safety in Woodwork

Introduction:

This page is intended to exemplify aspects of the Management of Health and Safety in Workplaces and to assist in education about, and practical implementation of occupational health and safety especially in "small and medium enterprises" of this type.

Hazards and Risks

From the standpoint of the risks of disease, these fall into two categories - those associated with energy (especially noise induced hearing loss) and those from exposure to substances such as wood dust, adhesives, varnishes etc.

Sensitisation of the skin resulting in dermatitis, or of the nose and lungs resulting in allergic rhinitis or asthma, are important health hazards in the woodworking environment. If exposure is not controlled then certain wood dusts can be associated with a risk of cancer of the nasal sinuses. 

Note: This page is still in preparation and is not intended to be a comprehensive or exhaustive account of health hazards, risks and means of risk reduction in woodworks. 

Useful links:

HSE