Wood Dust Monitoring

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Common substances we monitor for:

What is Wood Dust

Wood dust is a by-product from the cutting, sanding and machining of wood materials. It comes in the form of tiny particles from both hardwood and softwood. Wood dust can be a larger coarse dust from processes such as drilling and it also comes in the form of a fine dust created from processes such as sanding and the use of highspeed tools.

It is the fine dust that is associated with health risks such as allergies/skin irritation, asthma and irritation of the nose, throat and lungs. Long term exposure to hard wood in particular has been linked with nasal cancer.

Wood Dust is covered in the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 with the focus on minimising exposure of wood dust to workers as far as reasonably practicable through appropriate control measures.

Hard Wood dust has been given the notations Carc (Carcinogen) and Sen (capable of causing Occupational Asthma). Soft wood dust has been given the notation Sen in the HSE document EH40/2005 Workplace exposure limits. Where there is a mixture of both wood dusts the limit of Hard wood applies.

What to expect

Our Air Monitoring services will be undertaken by a highly trained and experienced Occupational Hygiene Consultant who will come to your site. Before the assessment, we will agree a scope of works extensively, decide on the number of samples necessary and the distribution between personal and static samples.

We will conduct an assessment for the scope of work and provide a Risk Assessment and Method Statement for the monitoring taking place. When the consultant comes to site, they will make observations and understand the sources of exposure and the control measures currently used. They will then assess their effectiveness using the measurement data gathered.

We will take personal exposure samples as per Methods for the Determination of Hazardous Substances (MDHS) 14/4. Samples will subsequently be sent to the lab for analysis. Once we have the results your consultant will create a comprehensive technical report.

What do our reports cover

We will provide:

  • A detailed executive summary of the work caried out.
  • An explanation of the legal requirements and workplace exposure limits (WELs).
  • Clear and comprehensive recordings of the assessment’s results including where and when they were taken.
  • A conclusion with specific recommendations separated out for each area of the site so it is clear what action should be taken and relevant photos to highlight targeted improvements.

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wood dust monitoring

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FAQ’s

What does monitoring for wood dust involve?

Various measures of the Wood Dust received by your employees. This is done by using personal monitors which are worn by operatives.

How long does air monitoring for wood dust take?

This depends on the number of machines, employee’s, size of the area, number of different processes. Site maps, staff numbers, walk rounds help gain a better picture of the site.

How often do I need to undertake air monitoring for wood dust?

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (2002) state that a risk assessment should be reviewed if “there is a reason to suspect that the risk assessment is no longer valid” or “there has been a significant change in the work to which the assessment relates”.

Examples of changes could include:

Equipment changes – location of equipment, removal, addition, runtimes etc

Control Measures – New LEV systems may have been installed and you wish to assess the effectiveness. For LEV Testing please see here.

What Our Clients Say

"Validate – A first-class organization, efficient, trustworthy, competitive, and reliable. I have used them on many occasions and have always been completely satisfied with the job they have done."

Geoff Northey - Independent Consultant, Former Group H&S Advisor, Altro Group Ltd

"We have been working with Validate Consulting Ltd since 2011 and have found that they provide a professional service, 1st class reports, and ongoing support and advice."

The Safety Health and Environmental Team, Heatrae Sadia

"I’ve been using Validate Consulting for air and noise sampling for a number of years now, and during this time they have always provided my organisation with clear concise information and advice on all sampling they have undertaken on my behalf, Validate Consulting have always been quick to react to our needs and I would say their service has always been second to none, this feeling is reinforced further as we are a global organisation and now use them across our other manufacturing facilities."

EHS Manager, Aerospace Engine Manufacturer in the South West

"Validate have always been professional, understanding and helpful, they have provided solutions to improve our working environment for many of our employees. They have helped us with updates in legislation and specifically with onsite assessments in COSHH, Noise and LEV testing. No question is too much trouble, we look forward to an ongoing relationship and I would definitely recommend their services."

Rob Lockyer, HSE Manager, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol

Why choose Validate Consulting 

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