Wood Dust Exposure Hazards

In 2009, wood dust was added to California's Proposition 65 list as a substance known to the State of California to cause cancer. Many workers across the nation are exposed to wood dusts at sawmills, wood processing facilities and during construction and renovation activities.

Wood dust can be created when wood is cut, drilled, sanded, machined or processed. Wood dust has several hazards associated with exposure in the workplace. Wood dust becomes a potential health problem when wood particles become airborne. Breathing these particles may cause allergic respiratory symptoms, mucosal and non-allergic respiratory symptoms, irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, pulmonary function impairment, and even cancer.

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  Education

[Jennifer Tetreault]

Juan, that is why hazard communication training is so important! You have the right to know about the hazards of the things you are working with. Similarly, car mechanics often have motor oil on their hands; but how many know that used motor oil can cause skin cancer?! This type of information can be found on the material safety data sheet (MSDS).