Can everyone also please remember dust in also explosive.
The hazardous forms of wood that are most likely to cause health risks are:
Wood dust;
Sap, latex or lichens associated with wood.
It's bark.
Skin:
Irritation can, in some species of wood, lead to nettle rashes or dermatitis. These effects, from direct contact or cross-contamination to other parts of the body by hand, tend to appear on the forearm, back of the hands, the face (particularly eyelids), neck, scalp and yes genitals
. On average they take up to 15 days to develop.
Respiratory and allied effects:
NOSE:
Wood especially inhalation of fine dust, can have many effects on the respiratory tract, including:
Rhinitis (runny nose)
Violent sneezing
Blocked nose
Nose bleeds
Nasal cancer (a recognised industrial disease)
LUNGS:
Asthma
Impairment of lung function
Extrinsic allergic alveolitis (a disease with "flu-like" symptoms which can cause progressive lung damage) e.g. When using western red cedar or iroko.
EYES:
Soreness
Watering
Conjunctivitis
WHOLE BODY:
Inhalation of some wood dusts can have general (whole body) effects, e.g. South African boxwood. Many effects have been described including headache, thirst, nausea, visual disturbance, drowsiness , anaemia and hepatitis.
OTHER NOTEWORTHY :
Some studies point to very rare adverse health effects, e.g. On germ cells (sperm), and disorders of the lymph system (Hodgkin's lymphoma)
PRECAUTIONS:
1) find out if the timbers you use have known ill-health effects
2) consider substituting more harmful toxic woods with less harmful ones
3) use effective local exhaust ventilation (LEV) to control exposure to wood dust at source.
4) use suitable respiratory protective equipment (RPE)
5) Use suitable protective clothing and gloves (where appropriate) to protect exposure from skin. This clothing should be designed so that dust does not become trapped between your clothing and skin.
6) make sure your LEV and PPE is properly maintained and cleaned methodically.
7) make sure you have good personal hygiene and wash hands before breaks and after work.
use after-work conditioning creams to help prevent dermatitis.
Hope this is of some help, I also have a list of more common toxic woods and a list of the reported adverse effects that each one has if anyone needs it or would find it helpful.
Take care.
Happy Turning
