Wood Dust Buckinghamshire

Workplace Air Monitoring at Taplow

A project in Taplow focused on air monitoring in a Shipyard facility to ensure safe working conditions for employees. The assessment aimed to evaluate workers' exposure to hazardous dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during tasks such as sanding, painting, and material preparation.

The results showed that inhalable dust levels in the prep area exceeded safe limits, indicating a need for improved control measures. In other areas, like the spray booth, exposure to VOCs and other chemicals remained below recommended limits. However, dust exposure in the prep area was deemed significant, prompting recommendations for more effective dust extraction systems, face fit testing for respirators, and better cleaning practices to prevent dust from spreading.

The report also emphasised the importance of avoiding dry sweeping to minimise dust clouds and suggested introducing regular deep cleaning routines. Overall, the assessment highlighted the need for proper equipment use, like local exhaust ventilation (LEV), and improved health surveillance for workers to protect against long-term exposure risks. This air monitoring project reinforced the importance of maintaining safety protocols to keep exposure levels as low as possible.