subject: Woodworking debris collection and woodshop safety [print this page] Woodworking debris collection and woodshop safety
Woodshop debris,in the form of offcuts,shavings and sawdust scattered around on the floor and over the surfaces,is a dangerous nuisance.The shavings make the floor slippery and the loose offcuts are potential ankle-breakers.And of course,the wood dust not only clogs the machines,it is a fire risk,it creeps into the home,and it also harms the lungs.
Just how much dust is considered to be dangerous? The Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA)suggests that if you can see wood dust floating around in the atmosphere when a shaft of sunlight shines across the workshop,then you have a problem that needs solving.
We tackle the problem in several ways:We cut the amount of dust down at the source by using filtered machines and by producing shavings rather than dust,and we have a large mobile vacuum system that wemove around to service the various machines.We also wear a rubber dust/vapor mask for most taskslike sawing,drilling,and when we are using varnish and suchanda lull-face electric visor-helmet respirator when we areworking at the lathe.As to which mask does the better job,the rubber mask is silent but uncomfortable and sweaty,while the electric full-face respirator is a bit heavy and noisy.
In the context of saw dust being bad for your lungs,I reckon that tried-and-trusted traditional American and European woods like ash,oak,beech,maple,willow,pear and pine are generally much safer than exotic species such as mahogany,obeche and iroko.All that said,if you find yourself sneezing,or your nose is running,or your skin develops a rash,then you best go for another wood type.
So what to do if you are really worried about dust and allergic reactions and such? Well,I think that for safety's sake,you need to stay with the following rules of thumb:
Whenever possible use hand tool techniques that produce shavings rather than dust.
Use traditional white-wood species that are non-oily to the touch.
Use a vacuum machine to suck up the dust as it is producedbefore it gets a chance to puff around the workshop.
Wear a full-face mask,and always wash your hands and lace alter work.
Always have a thorough sweep-up at the end of the day.
If you have a health problem,then ask the advice of your doctor.
