THE WOOD SECTOR - WHAT EPIS ARE NECESSARY?

INDIVIDUAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT

RESPIRATORY PROTECTION

One of the main risks to take into account in the wood sector is respiratory, since it is one of the main routes of entry into the body, both due to exposure to dust and to the chemical agents present in the composition.

Specific characteristics of wood powder

In the exhibition of works made with wood, two important characteristics must be taken into account:

Type of wood: depending on the species of the tree and the treatment, two types are distinguished: soft and hard (the latter are considered carcinogenic). In addition, we must bear in mind that they can contain numerous chemical agents such as exogens applied during their transformation.

Size of dust particles: depending on the type of wood and the multiple stages of transformation to its finish, the following will be produced: Particles that are larger than most, are deposited in the upper respiratory tracts and smaller particles that can reach up to the alveoli of the lungs, producing in either case injuries and illnesses that are detrimental to health.

For this reason it is very important to use equipment that belongs to category III

Masks (EN 149) folded masks and molded masks (Activated carbon)

Half mask or mask + filters (EN 140-EN-143-EN141-EN-14387) .2288-SE, 2288-FP3, 2288-FP3 CA, 2288-FA1P3 2288-FCP3 (in the presence of Class 1 gases or vapors ).

Full masks (EN 136) 2288-MF, 228-FNA2P3 2288-FNCP3 (in case of presence of Class 2 gases or vapors).

SAFETY GLOVES

This is another of the main risks in the wood sector, since it is another of the main entry routes to the body (the epidermis).

The main function of work gloves is to protect fingers, hands and forearms against possible risks when treating wood, either when transporting, moving or working it, such as by manipulating manual utensils or machinery.

For this reason, the use of protective gloves is essential depending on the tasks to be performed. The most common being mechanical risk (EN 388) and chemical risk (EN 374).

EYE PROTECTION

The eyes and face are parts of our body that are more exposed to the damages produced by projections of particles or wood shavings coming from the different work processes such as: cutting, brushing, milling, etc.

Protective glasses with a universal frame, Pr0 Line integral frame, Steel line integral frame or face shields (Crasher Line), (Volt Line) must be used, depending on the task to be carried out under the EN166 standard.

The wood sector

The wood sector

HEARING PROTECTION

Machines or tools that produce a lot of noise are used in this sector, so you should choose hearing protectors that provide correct attenuation depending on the exposure values to which you are subjected. For this we will use Plugs under EN 352-2 and EN 352-1 ear muffs.

In high temperature and high dust accumulation environments it is preferable to use caps. In situations of repeated exposure to short-term noises, it is preferable to use earmuffs or earplugs with a harness since their placement and removal is faster. In any case, there are other factors to take into account as explained in Hearing protectors.

FOOT PROTECTION

A Safety Shoe for professional use with EN 20345 certification will be used, which in addition to the basic requirements (resistance to toe at 200 J, anti-perforation insole, non-slip sole, etc.), is a Safety Shoe that provides ergonomics, comfort and breathability throughout your entire workday.

Due to the high level of danger when carrying out this type of work, it is vitally important to carry out the evaluation and prevention of risks by qualified personnel to guarantee and maintain safe working conditions, giving priority to collective protection measures against to individual protection measures.