Wood dust measurement for risk assessment at the workplace
Wood dust is classified as E-dust and poses a great risk of the particles settling in the lungs or affecting other parts of the body. For wood dust measurement and particle measurement of the dust fraction of E-dust, we recommend our measuring device SG10-2A for stationary measurement or the SG5100ex and SG5200 devices for personal measurement.
With regard to a wood dust explosion, we recommend our SG5100ex measuring device, as it has been specially developed for potentially explosive atmospheres.
Wood dust measurement important for wood processing at the workplace
For carpenters and other woodworking professions, the processing of wood is completely normal. Wood is usually seen as a natural and pure raw material. Few people think about the health risks involved in working with wood. Even professionals such as carpenters often work without face masks and therefore underestimate a major health hazard: wood dust.
If wood dust is released at the workplace as a result of woodworking, measures must be taken to protect the employee. This is regulated in the risk assessment, which must be prepared and adhered to by the employer. Protection against wood dust can be provided by a respiratory mask (e.g. FFP-2 particle-filtering half masks) as part of personal protective equipment. However, this should not be a permanent measure, as the minimization principle applies. Accordingly, exposure to wood dust must be kept as low as possible or measures must be taken to counteract its release.
In addition, the STOP principle also applies in this hazardous situation:
S-ubstitution (use of other, less hazardous substances)
T-echnical measures (e.g. safety airlocks, extraction systems)
O-rganizational (e.g. restructuring of work processes)
P-ersonal protective measures (use of additional protective equipment)
All protective measures must be adapted to the respective work situation and communicated to the employee through the risk assessment.
Below we offer you even more detailed distinguishing features for dusts.
What is meant by dusts?
The term dust refers to the smallest solid particles that are finely distributed in the ambient air. A distinction is made between A-dust (fine dust) and E-dust (total dust).
A-dust describes the alveolar dust fraction, which means that the solid particles can penetrate into the alveoli (pulmonary alveoli). There, this dust fraction can cause irritation and inflammation and lead to long-term damage to the lung tissue and cause so-called pneumoconiosis.
E-dust describes the inhalable fraction, i.e. the dust particles that can be inhaled through the mouth and nose. They do not penetrate quite as deeply into the lungs, but can cause equally severe irritation. The DIN EN 481 standard describes the particle size and diameter. The following can be deduced from this: The smaller the particle diameter, the deeper the particles penetrate into the lungs and the more severe the damage to the lung tissue can be.
What is wood dust?
Wood dust describes the dust particles that occur during woodworking. These are tiny wood particles that are produced during sawing and sanding work and the further processing of various types of wood. These are stirred up in the ambient air and can enter the lungs via the respiratory tract and cause damage to health. According to the Hazardous Substances Ordinance, wood dust is classified as hazardous substance and employees must therefore be protected from exposure. Due to its particle size, wood dust belongs to the inhalable fraction (E-dust) and enters the lungs via the upper respiratory tract (nose and mouth).
There it can irritate the respiratory tract and trigger sensitization. There are also types of wood (beech and oak) whose dusts are classified as carcinogenic. It can be absorbed not only through the respiratory tract, but also through the skin. The fine wood dust can settle on the skin (e.g. on the arms during work) and cause irritation or itching. Workers can be protected by wearing appropriate clothing.
Wood dust explosion
Furthermore, wood dust poses an additional hazard. If it is released and dispersed finely in the air, there is a risk of a dust explosion. A wood dust explosion can occur if various factors occur together. If the wood dust has a very small grain size or particle diameter and is distributed in the ambient air with a correspondingly high density, only a small ignition source is required and an explosion occurs. Due to the fine distribution of the small particles, the surface area of the dust increases enormously. This increase in surface area can be seen in the diagram below. Compared to a uniform piece of wood with a relatively small surface area, the surface area is huge for the same weight of wood dust. If these dust particles now come into contact with a spark, a devastating chain reaction is set in motion that releases explosive energy.
It is therefore important to minimize or prevent the release of wood dust in everyday working life. One measure is regular ventilation to prevent the formation of the explosive dust-air mixture. This air exchange can be carried out using an extraction system, for example. However, it is important to ensure that this is checked regularly and equipped with appropriate fire protection measures. Furthermore, ignition sources must be kept away and sparks must be avoided.
Sources:
[1]: Source Featured image: © Carlos Santos / 123RF.com
[2]: https://www.bghm.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Arbeitsschuetzer/Gesetze_Vorschriften/BG-Informationen/BGI_733.pdf
[3]: https://www.luftanalyse-zentrum.de/schadstoffquellen/schadstoffe-holz
[4]: https://publikationen.dguv.de/dguv/pdf/10002/209-044.pdf
[5]: https://www.baua.de/DE/Angebote/Rechtstexte-und-Technische-Regeln/Regelwerk/TRGS/pdf/TRGS-553.pdf?__blob=publicationFile
[6]: https://www.arbeitssicherheit.de/schriften/dokument/0%3A5004911%2C2.html
[7]: https://www.bgbau-medien.de/infopool/html/pdf/209_044.pdf
[8]: https://www.befestigungsfuchs.de/blog/holzstaub-die-unsichtbare-gefahr/
[9]: https://www.wuerth.de/web/de/awkg/unternehmen/magazin/content_52608.php
[10]: https://www.bgrci.de/fileadmin/BGRCI/Veranstaltungen/Sifa_Tag