Wood dust control in mills and furniture shops is about more than tidiness. Hardwood dust is carcinogenic, dry fines are combustible, and airborne particles ruin finishes and machinery. A simple, layered approach keeps exposures low and productivity high.

Plan the process and layout

Group high-emission tasks (ripping, routing, sanding) away from assembly and finishing. Keep clean and dirty routes separate, with dedicated trolleys for offcuts and waste. Store sheet goods and MDF flat to reduce edge-chipping. Schedule heavy sanding when fewer people are present, and keep doors shut to protect finishing areas.

Capture at source

Fit effective local exhaust ventilation (LEV) to saws, planers, moulders and sanders. Use shrouds that fully enclose the cutting arc and connect tool-mounted extraction on hand sanders. Keep duct runs short, avoid tight bends, and check airflow under load, not just free-air figures. Balance the system after filter changes and keep blast-gates labelled and open only where needed. If you must slow a pass to prevent breakout, do it—less breakout means less dust.

Control dust in the air

Where airborne particulate still escapes, use air scrubbers with high-efficiency filtration (H13/H14) sized to the room volume and process. Run them continuously during production and for a purge period after. For enclosed sanding rooms, a slight negative pressure helps stop migration to clean areas; for spray rooms, maintain the designed flow direction.

Housekeeping without re-suspending dust

Avoid sweeping and compressed air. Use industrial vacuums with appropriate filtration (M-Class as a baseline for wood dust; consider H-Class where hardwood/MDF exposures are significant). Vacuum worktops, machine internals and cable trays daily. Empty collection sacks before they overfill, and manage fine dust waste in sealed bags. Keep ignition sources away from fine dry dust accumulations.

Monitoring and limits

HSE sets an 8-hour WEL of 3 mg/m³ for hardwood or mixed wood dust, and 5 mg/m³ for softwood (inhalable). Use a particulate monitor for spot checks during peak tasks and confirm LEV performance with regular examinations. A quick smoke test at hoods helps visualise capture.

Practical takeaways

• Place high-dust processes away from clean and finishing areas.
• Prioritise well-fitted LEV and check airflow under load.
• Use H13/H14 air scrubbers to reduce background particulate.
• Vacuum only—no sweeping or compressed air.
• Check against WELs and keep simple performance logs.

Timber operations that combine well-maintained LEV, smart airflow and disciplined housekeeping consistently reduce exposures while improving finish quality and machine reliability.