COS/General/TBT-COS-015

Wood Dust Exposure

COSHH & Hazardous Substances › General › Wood Dust Exposure

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Wood dust is a recognised cause of occupational asthma, nasal cancer, and dermatitis in construction workers.
Hardwood dust is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
The UK workplace exposure limit for hardwood dust is 3 mg/m³ and for softwood dust is 5 mg/m³.
Common construction tasks generating wood dust include sawing, sanding, routing, and planing timber.
MDF and chipboard generate very fine dust that remains airborne longer and penetrates deeper into lungs.
On-tool extraction connected to an M-class or H-class vacuum is the primary control measure.
RPE is required where dust extraction alone cannot reduce exposure below the workplace exposure limit.
Health surveillance including lung function testing is required for workers regularly exposed to wood dust.
Treated timber may contain additional chemical hazards such as CCA preservatives or fire retardants.
COSHH 2002 requires employers to assess and control exposure to wood dust on construction sites.

Cancer risk	Hardwood dust is a proven cause of nasal cancer — there is no safe level of exposure to a known carcinogen.
Respiratory disease	Wood dust causes occupational asthma that can become permanent even after exposure stops.
Legal duty	COSHH 2002 requires employers to prevent or adequately control worker exposure to wood dust.

Don't

Use on-tool dust extraction for all sawing, sanding, routing, and planing tasks
Connect extraction to an M-class or H-class vacuum with appropriate filtration
Wear RPE where extraction alone does not reduce exposure below the WEL
Complete a COSHH assessment for wood dust before starting timber work
Enrol workers with regular wood dust exposure in health surveillance
Clean up wood dust with a vacuum — never dry sweep in enclosed areas
Provide adequate ventilation in workshops and enclosed cutting areas
Check the wood species — hardwoods carry higher cancer risk than softwoods
Identify treated timber and assess additional chemical hazards from preservatives
Store and empty dust collection bags in well-ventilated areas

DON'T cut, sand, or rout timber without dust extraction operating
DON'T use compressed air to blow wood dust off surfaces or clothing
DON'T dry sweep wood dust — it becomes airborne and is inhaled by everyone nearby
DON'T ignore respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, or nasal irritation
DON'T assume softwood dust is safe — it still causes asthma and respiratory disease
DON'T skip health surveillance if you regularly work with timber products
DON'T cut MDF without extraction — it produces extremely fine respirable dust
DON'T eat, drink, or smoke in dusty wood workshop areas
DON'T burn treated timber offcuts on site — toxic fumes are released
DON'T remove RPE while dust is still settling in the work area

See also: COSHH Awareness | On-Tool Extraction Systems

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