Prediction of carcinogenic wood dust emission from hand-held power tools and assessment of the efficiency of local exhaust ventilation systems for small and medium-sized enterprises

Measurements of airborne particles in a few enterprises manufacturing oak wood products - conducted as part of this task - showed that even if there were both general and local exhaust ventilation systems, the concentration of airborne dust at machinery and hand-tool workstations for machining could exceed admissible values by a few times. The concentration of oak wood dust emission during typical processes of its machining with hand-held power tools was measured in a test chamber installed in CIOP-PIB. The following processes were studied: grinding with band, oscillatory, rotary and off-centre saws, cutting wood with circular and jig saws, planing and milling. Local ventilation, with which these tools can be equipped, was also studied and its efficiency was assessed.Principles of predicting wood dust emission on the basis of the kind of machining that is involved and a way of predicting the emission of carcinogenic hardwood dust were developed. This can be a basis for predicting the magnitude of occupational risk and for selecting methods of reducing it.