Woodworking
- Publications
- Woodworking information sheet
- Safe working at woodworking machines
- Safe use of woodworking machinery (Approved Code of Practice)
- Retrofitting of braking to woodworking machines
- Selection of tooling for use with hand-fed woodworking machines
- Supervising for safety in woodworking
- Manual handling solutions in woodworking
- Wood dust: hazards and precautions
- Example risk assessment for a woodworking company
- Clearing the air
- Time to clear the air (workers pocketcard)
- Selection of respiratory protective equipment for use with wood dust
- HSE woodworking microsite
Publications
Woodworking information sheet pub 09/08 (792KB)
This information sheet explains some of the hazards and risks that are typical in most woodworking premises.
Safe working at woodworking machines pub 06/92 reprinted 01/06 (33.6KB)
This information sheet gives practical guidance on general workshop safety, including cleanliness, lighting and workshop layout.
Safe use of woodworking machinery (Approved Code of Practice) pub 1998 reprinted (with amendments) 2005 (2.96MB)
This document gives advice on some of the precautions to ensure the safe use of woodworking machinery. The advice given in the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) and guidance reflects the precautions that are widely accepted and used to reduce the risks from woodworking machinery.
Retrofitting of braking to woodworking machines pub 11/98 reprinted 03/05 (23.6KB)
The purpose of this information sheet is to provide advice, primarily to employers, on how to interpret and apply the requirements of the regulations that relate to the retrospective fitting of braking to certain classes of woodworking machinery.
Selection of tooling for use with hand-fed woodworking machines pub 11/98 (83.3KB)
The purpose of this information sheet is to give practical guidance on the selection of moulding and profiling tools for use on hand-fed woodworking machines.
Supervising for safety in woodworking pub 03/10 (487KB)
This leaflet is aimed at supervisors who work in the woodworking industry.
Manual handling solutions in woodworking pub 03/00 (182KB)
This leaflet provides manual handling advice for the handling of timber, tooling for use on machines, wooden components and planks, and other manual handling risks associated with woodworking.
Wood dust: hazards and precautions pub 09/97 reprinted 12/03 (18.5KB)
This information sheet lists the hazards associated with wood dust and what precautions should be taken to control the risks involved.
Example risk assessment for a woodworking company pub 08/10 (96KB)
The above risk assessment shows how a small woodworking company might approach risk management within their work. This example can be used as a guide when thinking about the hazards in your own business and the steps that you would need to take in order to control the risks.
Clearing the air pub 05/08 (192KB)
A simple guide to buying and using Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV).
Time to clear the air pocketcard pub 05/08 (60.5KB)
A workers' pocket guide to Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV).
Selection of respiratory protective equipment suitable for use with wood dust pub 10/97 reprinted 07/04 (63.4KB)
All wood dust (including dust from composites like chipboards and fibre boards etc) is hazardous to health. It can affect the nose, the respiratory system and the skin. This information sheet advises employers on the selection of respiratory protective equipment for use with wood dust, both hardwood and softwood.
HSE woodworking microsite
A lot of useful information can be found on the HSE woodworking microsite:
