Sector Specific Experience of Wood Dust and Toluene

Sector Specific Experiences of Wood Dust and Toluene 

In ttie sectors in which the two substances that were the special focus of our study are most commonly found - printing, publishing and allied industries wood furniture and fixtures industries and fabricated metal products - risk management was not generally perceived as an issue by owners and managers. The role of monitoring compliance with OELs was therefore minimal. 

Legal requirements for the control of wood dust The control of wood dust is required by law. The Royal Decree 1937(10/9/37) On the protection of safety of workers and technicians employed in the woodworku J tories Article 42 states exhaust appliances shall he provided at every sanding or producing wood dust machine as close to its production so that the dust is sucked at its source  

By virtue of Article 4 of P.D.307/86 the employer is obliged to take all the necessary m ures of Article 26 of Chapt V Health and Safety at Work Act 1568/85 to avoid or minimise the exposure of workers to agente re rr in Article 3 of P.D.307/86 (on the protection of the h th and safety of workers fiom the risks related to specific chemical agents at work) wherever this is practically possible. In all events the level of e osure must be low than the level defined as the exposure limit value . Article 3 as am ided 

Althou there were substantial incres es in inspections and subsequent enforcement actions in the sector between 2000 and 2002 (516 inspections leading to 3 prosecutions in 2000, increased to 726 inspections d 28 prosecutions in 2001, 435 inspections and 85 prosecutions in 2002 increased to 314 inspections in 2003) it is not possible to determine how many of these made reference to wood-dust exposure or involved OELs in any way. Given the existence of the general inspection strategy described so fer, and the known reluctance of nmny inspectors to engage with technical a ects of the risk evaluation of the use of h ardous substances, it seems likely that very few inspection and enforcement actions will have done tiiis. However, exposure is likely to be quite high in many cases. 

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