Wood Dust Exposure Monitoring

Monitoring the wood dust exposure of your staff will ensure that your staff are safe and also that your control measures are working.

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The Hazards of Wood Dust

Exposure is broken down into two categories – hardwood dust and softwood dust.

EH40/2005 classes both types of wood as respiratory sensitisers as they can cause occupational asthma. Furthermore, the condition only worsens over time. If someone is sensitised, then even small amounts can cause a severe allergic reaction. Hardwood dust is also a known cancer-causing substance. For this reason, monitoring your workers exposure to wood dust is important.

Exposure Limits

Exposure Limits for Hardwood and Softwood Dusts

The 8-hour limits given in EH40 are 5 mg.m-3 for softwood dust and 3 mg.m-3 for hardwood. Also, the HSE requires employers to control both types to a level they refer to as ALARP (as low as reasonably practicable). This extra caution is because both types are sensitisers and hardwood is also carcinogenic. Even if the monitoring shows that exposure to wood dust is low if further control measures are available, employers must use them, because there is no safe exposure level.

Monitoring Exposure

Monitoring Wood Dust Exposures

Our occupational hygiene consultants measure exposure using the method the HSE specifies in MDHS 14/4. In reality, it is customary to measure the inhalable part only. When sampling inhalable particles, the occupational hygienist will use an IOM sampling head. The consultant will attach a pump for the operative to wear, usually on the belt or in a pocket. The consultant then positions the sampling head, which contains a pre-weighed filter, in the worker’s breathing zone (within 300mm of the mouth and nose). The laboratory analyses the filter following MDHS 14/4.

Controlling Wood Dust

Controlling Exposure

The HSE expects sites that handle wood dust to control exposure by using local exhaust ventilation (LEV) systems. Employers have a legal obligation to test and maintain systems following HSE guidance HSG258 ‘Controlling airborne contaminants at work’.

Synergy Occupational Hygiene Ltd offers workplace air monitoring services and recommends combining monitoring with LEV testing.