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Dust exposures in the wood processing industry.

U Alwis1, J Mandryk, A D Hocking

  • 1University of Sydney, Australia.

American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
|October 26, 1999
PubMed
Summary

Woodworking workers in Australia face high dust exposure, with 62% exceeding standards. Most workers do not use respirators correctly, increasing risks in logging, sawmills, woodchipping, and joineries.

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Area of Science:

  • Occupational Health
  • Environmental Science
  • Industrial Hygiene

Background:

  • Woodworking processes generate inhalable dust, posing significant respiratory health risks to workers.
  • Current exposure standards may not adequately protect workers in various woodworking sectors.
  • Inadequate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is a common issue in high-dust environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess personal inhalable dust exposures among workers in different woodworking processes in New South Wales, Australia.
  • To determine the percentage of exposures exceeding established occupational exposure limits.
  • To identify key factors influencing dust exposure levels and PPE usage.

Main Methods:

  • Personal inhalable dust samples were collected from 182 workers across logging sites, sawmills, woodchipping operations, and joineries.

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  • Exposure data were analyzed using geometric means and compared against existing occupational exposure standards.
  • Statistical analysis identified significant determinants of dust exposure, including workplace characteristics and work practices.

    • Main Results:

    • Geometric mean exposures ranged from 0.6 mg/m3 (logging) to 3.7 mg/m3 (joineries).
    • Overall, 62% of all measured exposures exceeded current standards.
    • Joineries showed high non-compliance, with 95% of hardwood and 35% of softwood exposures exceeding limits. Approximately 90% of workers did not use respirators appropriately.

    Conclusions:

    • A substantial proportion of woodworking workers in New South Wales are exposed to inhalable dust levels exceeding occupational standards.
    • The findings highlight critical deficiencies in dust control measures and respirator use across the industry.
    • Interventions focusing on engineering controls, improved work practices, and consistent, correct respirator use are essential to mitigate risks.