We have seen a recent increase in calls from members to the FSB health and safety advice line seeking advice on the legal requirement to carry out health surveillance and lung function tests for woodworkers, as well as ventilation requirements. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which enforces health and safety legislation in Great Britain, is specifically targeting woodworking, metalworking and garages where there is a risk of harmful dust and particles in the air.
In its press releases, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced that throughout 2023/24 HSE it will be inspecting a variety of woodworking businesses and metal working businesses, as part of its strategy to reduce cases of work-related ill health, and occupational lung disease. Through unannounced spot checks, HSE inspectors will check that woodwork and metalwork is planned correctly to minimise risk and that adequate control measures are in place to protect workers’ health.
In 2022/23, HSE carried out more than 1,000 woodworking inspections and found 78% of businesses were not compliant in protecting workers from respiratory sensitisers (primarily hardwood, softwood and composite material dust). This resulted in 402 enforcement actions taken by HSE. For example, in October, a woodworking company was fined £25,000 for failing to control its employees’ exposure to wood dust.
The main areas of concern from their inspections of woodworking businesses identified by HSE were:
Dry sweeping. Avoid dry sweeping and using compressed airlines when cleaning up as these will just create dust clouds and redistribute the dust. Use vacuum equipment that meets at least the dust class M (medium hazard) classification, or a suction hose attached to the LEV system.
Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV). Control wood dust at source as it is produced, and prevent it spreading into the workplace, by the use of fixed LEV. Advice about LEV design and management can be found on the HSE website.
Face fit testing. Workers have varying sizes and shapes of faces, so a face ‘fit test’ is needed to ensure any tight-fitting respirator is effective for the individual worker. Facial hair or glasses tend to lift the respirator off the face and permit inward leakage of contaminated air.
Health Surveillance. Woodworking employers and other employers have a legal duty to provide health surveillance as there is a disease associated with wood dust and other harmful particles where there is a residual risk that remains after other control measures have been put in place. HSE guidance on health surveillance can be found here.
Where can I find guidance?
HSE tips on how to keep workers safe when working with metal fluids can be found here.
HSE has also produced more detailed guidance on working in the woodworking industry and guidance on working safely with metal fluids. As well as access to the health and safety resources on the FSB Legal and Business Hub and FSB legal advice line for general guidance, details of our feepaying health and safety consultancy service that can assist with carrying out risk assessments, implementing control measures and other health and safety consultancy services, can be found on the hub.