Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Woodworking
A direct mail has been sent out to woodworking businesses across the UK to raise awareness the health risks associated with wood dust.
HSE woodworking section provides advice for people who might be thinking about buying woodworking machinery at auction. It warns buyers about some of the pitfalls when buying secondhand machines.
HSE has launched an inspection programme on control of noise. During the year inspectors will visit woodworking premises and will expect to see evidence that noise risks have been eliminated or reduced to the lowest level that is reasonably practicable.
Where noise risks remain, inspectors will be looking for evidence that the risks are being well managed and that suitable health surveillance is in place. Remember, hearing protection is normally the last line of defence – where possible, it is always better to control noise at source.
To help you manage noise in your workplace HSE has launched a website providing detailed information on good practice with links to further advice, examples and guidance. Follow the link below to find out more about established good practice for managing noise risks in your sector.
The Health and Safety Commission's (HSC's) Revitalising Health and Safety Strategy (RHS) aims to reduce work related injuries and ill health by 2010.
HSE's Manufacturing Sector (Woodworking Group) is working on a number of projects in conjunction with woodworking industry stakeholders to support the revitalising strategy.
In 2004/5 a 3-year project was started to address the high incidence of musculoskeletal injuries during the manufacture of mattresses. These arose from activities such as tape edging, manually handling mattresses during the manufacturing process, stacking and retrieval of mattresses in the warehouse, and from loading delivery vehicles.
Approximately 30 companies have agreed to take part in a partnership initiative and have submitted action plans for how they intend to reduce the risks to their employees from handling mattresses.
In November 2005, the Manufacturing Sector held an exploratory meeting with key stakeholders from the woodworking industry, including UK Woodchain, National Association of Shopfitters (NAS), British Woodworking Federation (BWF), Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), Timber Trades Federation (TTF), Woodworking Machine Suppliers Association (WMSA) and UK Forestry Products Association (UKFPA), with a view to developing a industry plan for reducing accidents and ill-health in the industry. The intention is to work together in partnership with trade associations on key activities that will deliver those improvements.
In 2005/6 the Manufacturing Sector has asked HSE’s Field Operations inspectors to focus on certain key messages when visiting woodworking companies:
In addition, inspectors have been asked to check that pre-start and on-going low level (questionnaire based) health surveillance is in place for all wood dust exposure and appropriate health records kept.