HC5
Wood shapers are a major source of wood dust emissions. 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.
Surveys by NIOSH researchers found that the dust from wood shapers
tends to be poorly controlled. The amount of wood dust emitted
was found to depend on the sharpness of the cutter, the depth
of the cut, the rate at which the wood is fed into the shaper,
and the location of the exhaust hood. After studying the usual
hood exhaust placement, researchers developed an improved hood
configuration that significantly reduced wood dust emissions.
To obtain more information about controlling this hazard, or for information on other occupational health and safety issues, call NIOSH at:
A technical article Dust Controls for a Wood Shaper, Appl Ind Hyg J 2(4):164 169(1987), has been published 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
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. 96-122