wood dust

Woodworking Industry News

Dust Safety: What damage can it do?

Exposure to wood dust has been associated with health issues due to the natural chemicals in the wood, or substances in the wood such as bacteria, molds, or fungi, according to the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety. Wood dust is considered carcinogenic to humans according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). IARC states that wood dust causes cancer of the nasal cavity (nose area) and paranasal sinuses (spaces in and around the nasal cavity) and the nasopharynx (upper part of the throat, behind the nose).

Woodworking Industry News

Wood dust, one of ten explosive materials revealed

Recent research has revealed ten unexpectedly explosive materials, including wood dust, due to combustible dust.  Experts in dust extraction, Extraction Solutions, found the explosive power of ten non-suspecting materials using the KST deflagration index of dust, which ranges from no risk of explosion (ST 0) to a very strong explosion rating (ST 3).

Podcasts

What price safety with Jeffrey Nichols

In this the second of two parts, Will Sampson talks with wood dust fire prevention expert Jeffrey C. Nichols about how spark detection technology actually works to put out fires or explosions before they happen. Will shares his own thoughts on the apparent or imagined conflict in woodworking between safety and production eficiency. 

Plant Production & Software

Monitoring wood dust hazards: Who's in charge

OSHA defines combustible dust as “fine particles that present an explosion hazard when suspended in the air, in certain conditions.” For a combustible dust explosion to occur, five factors must be present: fuel (combustible dust), ignition (heat or spark), oxygen (air), dispersion (dust suspension) and confinement. Removal of any one element will eliminate the possibility of occurrence. The following is a list of some of the agencies and organizations involved in monitoring dust hazards in the woodshop.