NIOSH Hazard Control/Control of Wood Dust From Table Saws-HC10

                                                                      HC10

Control of Wood Dust From Table Saws

Table saws have been found to create significant amounts of wood dust. Workers exposed to wood dusts have experienced a variety of adverse health effects such as eye and skin irritation, allergy, reduced lung function, asthma, and nasal cancer. Therefore, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health* (NIOSH) recommends limiting wood dust exposures to prevent these health problems.

NIOSH researchers found that the wood dust generated by table saws is often poorly controlled. To address this problem, researchers designed and tested a control system for table saws that significantly reduced wood dust emissions.

LOCAL EXHAUST HOOD

(See ILLUSTRATION)

*NIOSH is the Federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for preventing workrelated illness and injuries. HAZARD CONTROLS are based on research studies that show reduced worker exposure to hazardous agents or activities.

ILLUSTRATION:
AUXILIARY EXHAUST HOOD FOR TABLE SAWS

For More Information

To obtain more information about controlling this hazard, or for information on other occupational health and safety issues, call NIOSH at:

1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674)

A technical article Controlling Wood Dust from Table Saws has been written on this subject.

This document is one in a series of seven HAZARD CONTROLS concerning wood dust control techniques listed below that are available free upon request from NIOSH:

     HC4 Control of Wood Dust from Horizontal Belt Sanders
     HC5 Control of Wood Dust from Shapers
     HC6 Control of Wood Dust from Automated Routers
     HC7 Control of Wood Dust from Large Diameter Disc Sanders
     HC8 Control of Wood Dust from Random Orbital Hand Sanders
     HC9 Control of Wood Dust from Orbital Hand Sanders
     HC10 Control of Wood Dust from Table Saws

Acknowledgments

The principal contributors to this HAZARD CONTROLS are Jennifer L. Topmiller, Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, and Jerome P. Flesch, Education and Information Division, NIOSH.

This document is in the public domain and may be freely copied or reprinted. NIOSH encourages all readers of this HAZARD CONTROLS to make it available to all interested employers and workers.

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 96-127

Control of Wood Dust From Table Saws

*NIOSH is the Federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for preventing work­related illness and injuries. HAZARD CONTROLS are based on research studies that show reduced worker exposure to hazardous agents or activities.

This page was last updated: March 2, 1998

*NIOSH is the Federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for preventing workrelated illness and injuries. HAZARD CONTROLS are based on research studies that show reduced worker exposure to hazardous agents or activities.