Wood work requires safety first

When embarking on any DIY work which concerns wood it is important to take some safety precautions because wood dust can cause cancer and is the second most common industrial cancer after that caused by asbestos.

The upper respiratory tract is vulnerable to wood dust so it is imperative to wear a protective mask if you are working with the material.

Without such a mask you put yourself at risk from anything from a nosebleed to lung cancer and wood workers have also complained of eczema, asthma and dermatitis.

Surgical masks are not enough and you should seek out a professional quality respiratory protection masks before you do any sawing or hammering.

The main actions which cause high dust levels are sawing, routing, sanding by hand and using compressed air for spraying.

Wood dust also poses a tripping safety hazard and a fire hazard and so you should make sure you are properly trained to deal with the equipment you plan to use and are wearing protective clothing before embarking on a big wood project.


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