HC4
The use of horizontal belt sanders in woodworking creates 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.
Surveys by NIOSH researchers indicated that wood dust from the
horizontal belt sanders used in woodworking was not effectively
controlled. As a result, researchers developed an inexpensive
auxiliary ventilation system for the horizontal belt sanders that
significantly reduced wood dust emissions into the workroom.
TOP VIEW OF BELT SANDER WITH AUXILIARY VENTILATION SYSTEM |
To obtain more information about controlling this hazard, or for information on other occupational health and safety issues, call NIOSH at:
A technical report Control of Wood Dust from Horizontal Belt Sanding, Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 46(10):567 577(1985), has been published on this subject. Also, a videotape on this topic Innovations in Belt Sander Ventilation, Tape #180, 8 minutes, may be borrowed free of charge.
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. 96-121