CONTRIBUTORS - TALKING TIMBER
Wood dust inhalation poses various health risks .
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All cutting and debarking equipment , such as circular saws and rotary debarkers , should be fitted with safety guards or interlocks capable of preventing access to moving parts . Work stations should be aligned to minimise human danger from fragments which could arise from breakage , while saws and debarking equipment should be regularly inspected and maintained to prevent equipment failure .
Workers should be trained on the safe use of cutting and debarking equipment , such as the use of push-sticks and other means to move timber past a blade while keeping all parts of the body away from the blade . All personnel operating cutting equipment should use protective eyewear and other Personal Protective Equipment ( PPE ) as necessary . Saws should be equipped with screens or other devices to protect workers from log kick-back .
Sawmills typically transport wood using electric , movable , multi route conveyor systems . Conveyors under high tension may break , resulting in injury . Clothing or limbs can also become entangled in conveyors . In order to prevent injury from conveyor systems , various measures should be adopted .
Plant design should emphasise simple conveyor routes that are clearly demarcated , with the use of skirt boards to prevent access as necessary . Moving gears , chains and rollers should be fully enclosed , and hard hats should be worn in areas where elevated conveyors are in use .
Conveyor belt arrestors should be installed to stop the conveyor in the event of a belt failure . Belts should be inspected on a daily basis by trained personnel to ensure that they are in good working order . Furthermore , loose clothing is a hazard as it can be caught in a conveyor belt and injure the worker .
Sawmill and wood manufacturing activities may involve working in awkward postures , movement of heavy pieces of equipment or timber , resulting in injuries to the back if lifting is not done correctly . In addition , many of the process tasks are repetitive and can lead to strains or injuries to hands and arms .
HIGHLIGHTING SAWMILL MANUFACTURING HAZARDS
Sawmill and wood manufacturing operations may result in high noise levels . A number of guidelines can be used to address this problem – machines and equipment with high noise emissions , in excess of 85dB ( A ), should be enclosed in noise reduction housing . Regular maintenance , including water lubrication of machines and cutting blades as well as resin build-up removal , should be conducted .
Circular saw parameters ( such as bite depth , blade angle and blade speed ) should be adjusted in relation to the timber being cut and the machinery used . One should consider the use of low noise sawblades in addition to other less noisy equipment . In addition , conduct audiometric testing for workers and provide them with appropriate PPE including hearing protection .
Workers may also be exposed to elevated levels of hazardous chemicals , including solvents , during painting , varnishing , or the application of preservative treatments . Working with chemicals without suitable PPE may affect the worker ’ s lungs , kidneys , liver , brain and skin .
Recommended techniques to prevent and control chemical exposure include the substitution of solventbased coatings and adhesives with less toxic alternatives , as well as the use of automated techniques for coating and
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60 AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2018 //