12 Most Common Woodworking Hazards
- CTIA
- Jul 6, 2021
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 2, 2022
Woodworking is a dangerous trade. One quick glance around the workshop reveals a slew of hazards due to the variety of machines used and the nature of the work performed. Because of the widespread risks and diverse hazards involved with woodworking, health and safety training is central to preventing injuries in the workplace.
As an employer, you have a legal duty to protect, instruct, train and supervise employees to ensure they safely perform their work. The task of assessing the various hazards and whittling them down to a manageable size can seem daunting. Start by considering the following common health and safety hazards and recommendations on how to combat them.
Common Health & Safety Hazards
Complying with health and safety standards is a team effort—you must familiarize yourself with industry regulations and common hazards and communicate this information to your workers. The list below is a general overview of common woodworking health and safety hazards and recommendations for curbing them.
Hygiene. Considering the more obvious woodworking hazards, hygiene can seem insignificant by comparison. Make no mistake, hygiene is essential, especially hand hygiene. Hands are the part of the body most likely to encounter harmful substances.
Require your employees to frequently wash their hands throughout the day, and prohibit them from cleaning their hands with mineral spirits, thinners, gas or turpentine, which can cause a potential fire hazard. Employees who neglect routinely washing their hands can develop serious skin irritation due to accumulated chemicals.
Wood dust. Sanding and planing wood creates dust, and breathing it in can cause nasal cancer and serious lung problems. Invest in a local exhaust ventilation (LEV) system to filter out harmful wood dust in your employees’ work space. Dust lamps can help track and control dust dispersion by illuminating extra-fine dust not visible to the naked eye.
According to OSHA, all mills containing one or more machines that create dust, shavings, chips or slivers during a period of time equal to or greater than one-fourth of the working day need to be equipped with a collecting system. It may be either continuous or automatic, and must remove dust from points of operation and immediate vicinity. Protective equipment for the eyes and mouth is crucial.
Fire and explosions. Concentrations of small wood dust particles are highly flammable. They can accumulate in machines, LEVs and in the workroom.
Regularly clean the entire workroom, including all machines, to prevent dust buildup. Control any fire hazards, such as wood burning stoves and cigarettes.
Woodworking machinery. Employees must inspect and clean all woodworking machinery regularly. Any employees cleaning machinery must be authorized to do so. Employees should be authorized to use the machinery and inspect it before each use.
Your machines should have the necessary guards and required tools, such as a push stick.
Chainsaws. All employees using chainsaws must be trained to handle them properly. Require employees to wear eye protection, earmuffs, safety helmets, leg protection and protective footwear while using a chainsaw. Before activating the machine, tell employees to scan the work area for any tripping hazards.
Hazardous substances. The woodworking industry is deceptively full of hazardous substances. Inhaling or touching certain substances, such as wood preservatives or epoxy resins, can cause severe dermatitis, a skin condition resulting from direct irritation.
Employees should use suitable gloves and body protection when handling hazardous chemicals. Inhaling asbestos can cause irreversible lung damage. Stay vigilant for any asbestos threats.
Working at height. Falling from height can cause serious or even fatal injury. Employees should exercise every precaution when working at height. Commission a risk assessment to identify any risks your employees face.
Use edge protection to help stop workers and their materials from falling. Anticipate any fragile roofs by employing crawling boards or roof ladders. Stress proper ladder safety: extend ladders 3 feet above the working platform, tie ladders on both stiles to prevent slipping and maintain three points of contact.
Slips and trips. The danger of slips and trips is that they can happen anywhere and to anyone. Instruct your employees to wear non-slip shoes and clean their work areas periodically throughout the day.
Stress that slips and trips affect the whole workplace, so everyone should work to eliminate them by cleaning up spills or debris, even if they did not cause them. Dispose of all debris in a dumpster or garbage can, as the debris may contain nails or other sharp objects. Safety boots with steel-toe caps can help prevent foot injuries.
Noise. Provide your employees with hearing protection, as noise from loud machines can cause significant hearing loss. Inspect machines for noise, and separate the loudest ones from others.
Manual handling. Handling dense wood can be tough on the back—make it easier on your employees by promoting safe lifting techniques. If a load weighs more than 40 pounds, employees should make special lifting arrangements. Tell employees to avoid awkward postures or repetitive tasks when lifting.
Power and hand tools. Employees should always check all hand tools and equipment for faults before using them. Verify that employees are using tools correctly and only using what they are trained to use. Maintain up-to-date maintenance reports so you can assess tools’ safety.
Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Prolonged exposure to vibrations from hand-held power tools can damage blood vessels, nerves, muscles and tendons. Curb employee exposure by purchasing low-vibration tools and keeping tools sharp so they remain efficient. Good circulation helps combat HAVS, so encourage your employees to keep themselves and their workspaces warm and dry.
Carriage Trade Insurance Agency's experience in the wood manufacturing world cannot be matched. We understand that not every business is the same, so we look to find the right woodworking insurance for your business.
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