Sawdust

Sawdust is the result of sawing, sanding or planing wood. Exposure to sawdust can be harmful to people’s health. As an employer in the Netherlands, you must take steps to ensure that their employees are adequately protected from sawdust. You must comply with the following sequence of measures:

• use the least harmful material;
• choose the least harmful working method;
• work with equipment that includes a good extraction system;
• ensure proper ventilation;
• maintain a clean work place;
• limit the number of employees that are exposed to sawdust;
• ensure that equipment and extraction systems are always properly maintained;
• inform and instruct your employees about sawdust safety;
• distribute personal protection equipment.

You must ensure that the exposure to sawdust remains below a set quantity. Limits are set by law.

Risk inventory and evaluation (RI&E)

You are obliged to perform a risk inventory and evaluation (RI&E) with regard to your staff as an employer in the Netherlands. You must also evaluate exposure to sawdust within this context.