Woodworking is a dangerous trade. There are many potential hazards present in a joiner’s work environment which could lead to severe injury or even death.
Sanding and planing wood creates wood dust, and breathing it in can cause nasal cancer, serious lung problems and asthma, which woodworkers are four times more likely to get compared with other UK workers. Both hardwood and softwood dusts have a Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) which must not be exceeded. The WEL for hardwood dust is 3mg/m3 (based on an 8-hour time-weighted average). The WEL for softwood dust is 5mg/m3 (based on an 8-hour time-weighted average). For mixtures of hardwood and softwood dusts, the WEL for hardwood dust of 3mg/m3 applies to all wood dusts present in that mixture. Employers must provide dust extraction, also known as local exhaust ventilation or LEV, at woodworking machines to capture and remove dust before it can spread.
Concentrations of small wood dust particles are highly flammable. They can accumulate in machines, local exhaust ventilation (LEV) and in the workroom. Regularly clean the entire workroom, including all machines, to prevent dust build-up and control any fire hazards.
Wood dust, shavings, chips or slivers can also cause injuries to the eyes or skin through splinters. Joiners are at most risk from flying debris from the chipping, chiselling, drilling, grinding, sanding and sawing of wood. Even a tiny splinter of wood can cause severe eye damage.
Joiners regularly use workbenches, but when a bench is too low, bending over can result in back aches and pains. Try to be aware of potential problems like this, and think about how to resolve the situation such as raising the height of the bench, or sitting in a chair or on a stool while working.
In any job, performing the same tasks over and over again carries a risk of repetitive strain injury (RSI). In workshop joinery, these are often related to bending, hunching, reaching or lifting. To prevent RSI, joiners should be aware of their posture when carrying out repetitive tasks and take steps to reduce any action that causes excessive strain on the back, neck, shoulders and arms in particular.
Tools used improperly could risk causing severe injury, so it is important to have the right training in their use. All employees using powered tools must be trained to handle them properly. Additionally, there are risks of injury from the wear and tear of equipment if it is no longer fit for purpose. Hand tools and electrical equipment should be regularly checked for any faults or damage, to prevent injury. All woodworking machinery must be cleaned regularly and inspected before each use.
The most common injuries sustained by joiners include fractured hands, feet and toes due to crushing and squashing-related accidents. Loss of fingers can also happen due to dangerous or faulty tools or equipment.
When using loud machinery or operating tools that cause loud noises over a long period of time, a person’s hearing could be affected. These changes may not be immediately obvious, but the noise of machinery has been attributed to hearing loss in later life.
Prolonged exposure to vibrations from hand-held power tools can damage blood vessels, nerves, muscles and tendons; symptoms can include white patches on the hands, especially in cold weather, a tingling in the fingers, numbness in the fingers and even a gradual loss of sensation. We will look at the risks of using power tools later in this guide.
Joiners use electrical tools on a daily basis. These tools should be regularly inspected and tested to check for faults as they may cause electrical shock or electrical burns.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) is the law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health. The woodworking industry is deceptively full of hazardous substances. Inhaling or touching certain substances, such as wood preservatives or epoxy resins, can cause severe dermatitis, a skin condition resulting from direct irritation. Considering the more obvious woodworking hazards, hygiene can seem insignificant by comparison. Hands are the part of the body most likely to encounter harmful substances whilst woodworking. Employees who neglect routinely washing their hands can develop serious skin irritation due to accumulated chemicals.
