Construction Dust: Cutting wood with power
tools
Cutting wood with power tools can produce high levels of wood dust. A good standard of control is
needed because this work can be high risk. The page tells you how to control this risk and why.
What you must do
There are three key things you need to do:
1) Plan
Try stopping or limiting the dust risks before work starts:

Think about the wood you are using. Some species are more toxic than others (see WIS 30 link)

Order pre-cut materials

Use dedicated cutting areas to minimise spread
2) Do
Even if you stop some of the dust this way, you may still need to cut wood with power tools. Control the
risk by:

Using on-tool extraction with an H or M class extraction unit (see CIS 69 link). Make sure the
extraction flow rate is right for the work. Hose connections should be tight fitting and secure without
obvious leaks.

Also wearing Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) for longer periods of work (i.e. 15-30 minutes
accumulated time over the day) – particularly in enclosed spaces. In general use RPE with an APF
of 20 (e.g. FFP3 disposable mask or half mask with P3 filter) unless there is limited residual dust
and the wood is lower risk (e.g. pine). In these cases use RPE with an APF of 10 (e.g. FFP2
disposable mask or half mask with P2 filter).

Making sure any RPE is compatible with other items of protective equipment, fits the user and is
worn correctly. Anyone using tight fitting masks needs to be clean shaven.

Providing the correct training. Workers need to be aware of the risks and what to do.
3) Check
Make sure the controls work by:

Checking they are effective. Does the work still seem dusty? You might need to carry out personal
monitoring;

Maintaining the equipment. Regularly look for signs of damage to the hood, hoses or extraction unit
– pay particular attention to filters, extraction rates and warning devices. Someone competent
should examine any dust extraction equipment thoroughly and test its performance at least once
every 14 months.

Supervising the work to make sure it is done correctly

Deciding if you need a health surveillance programme. Wood dust causes asthma and any health
effects must be picked up early. For most woods, low level health surveillance will do. This could be
an initial questionnaire (link to http://www.hse.gov.uk/asthma/samplequest2.pdf ) and a follow up
questionnaire (link to http://www.hse.gov.uk/asthma/samplequest3.pdf ). A higher level of health
surveillance is needed for exposures to woods which are known asthmagens; such as western red
cedar. This includes lung function testing,
What you should know
This work involves a number of quick cuts. That does not mean it is low risk. Wood dust can cause
serious health problems. Carpenters and joiners and four times more likely to get asthma compared with
other UK workers. This means the controls need to be very good. Use the controls above every time you
do this work to limit the amount of dust you breathe.
The video in the link below shows the high levels of wood dust that you can get from some common
woodworking tasks:
Clean up act up (link to http://www.hse.gov.uk/woodworking/wood-dust-exposure.htm )
Resources
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
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COSHH Website (link to http://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/index.htm )
RPE Website (link to http://www.hse.gov.uk/respiratory-protective-equipment/index.htm )