Wood dust is a daily reality in cabinetmaking. Beyond mess, it drives respiratory illness, dermatitis, and long-term cancer risk from hardwood dust. Good extraction improves finishes, reduces rework, and keeps you on the right side of COSHH and HSE expectations.

Capture at source

Fit effective local exhaust ventilation (LEV) to fixed machines. Keep hoods close to the cut, enclose where possible, and ensure the duct and hood are sized to maintain capture without starving the tool. On hand tools, use shrouded sanders, routers, and saws with tool-mounted extraction and antistatic hoses. Downdraft benches help during sanding of smaller parts.

Check airflow under load, not free-air ratings. Inspect shrouds, brushes, and seals weekly; damaged skirts and clogged hoses cripple capture. Keep blades sharp and feed rates sensible to reduce dust generation at the source.

Control airborne dust

Use portable air scrubbers to manage background airborne particulate. Position units to pull air away from workers and towards filters, supporting a clean-to-dirty flow. In small sanding rooms, use temporary negative pressure to stop migration to the shop. For fine and carcinogenic fractions, choose HEPA with H13 or H14 filtration. Avoid recirculation if spraying solvent-based finishes unless risk assessed and appropriately filtered.

Housekeeping without re‑agitation

Avoid sweeping and compressed air. Vacuum floors, machines, and racks using industrial units with at least M-Class filtration; step up to H-Class and H14 where fine airborne fractions or hardwood dust are present. Pre-separators reduce filter loading and bag changes. Bag and seal waste before moving it. Finish with damp wiping of benches and high-touch surfaces.

Maintenance and verification

Log filter changes and watch differential pressure to spot clogging. Inspect LEV weekly and arrange thorough examinations at the required intervals. Use a simple particulate monitor or dust lamp to validate that controls are working during high-dust tasks. Train teams to recognise poor capture and report issues immediately.

Practical takeaways

• Keep hoods close and enclosed; check capture with the tool running under load.
• Attach vacuums to all hand sanders and routers; use antistatic hoses.
• Run an air scrubber to manage background dust; direct airflow away from workers.
• Vacuum, don’t sweep; use M-Class minimum, H-Class where risk demands.
• Use pre-separators to extend filter life and reduce downtime.
• Log inspections and spot-check with a particulate meter.

Well-implemented extraction makes cabinet shops safer and more efficient. Focus on source capture, supplement with air cleaning where needed, and keep housekeeping dry and controlled. Small, consistent improvements compound into cleaner air and better work.