Wood Dust in the Wood Recycling Sector

Employers have a legal duty to protect workers from the hazards of wood dust under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH). They must carry out risk assessments and take steps to ensure risks are prevented or adequately controlled. They must not exceed certain Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs) for dust and reduce employee exposure to As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP).

The guidance addresses the HSE’s recommendations on managing exposure to wood dust and sets out the ways in which the risks can be prevented or adequately controlled according to a ‘hierarchy of control’. It covers topics including risk assessments, wood dust exposure during waste processing activities, Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) and health surveillance of employees.