23 September 2015
During the early part of 2015, the Health and Safety Inspectorate (HSI), carried out an initiative to proactively visit a cross section of joinery workshops. In total, 14 joinery workshops were visited.
The initiative identified three common areas requiring additional measures to be put in place including:
- the provision of training by competent trainers
- safer measures to control wood dust
- to ensure the wellbeing of operators through suitable health surveillance
The aim was to assist dutyholders to improve the standards of health and safety within the woodworking industry by raising awareness of the 'Safe Use of Woodworking Machinery Approved Code of Practice 9' (Woodworking ACoP) and their legal duties.
The following areas were specifically addressed with each dutyholder:
- training of machinery operators
- supervision of machinery operators
- medical standards and health surveillance
- working environment
- machinery safety, general and specific, guarding, braking, authorisation of use and risk assessments
- control of wood dust and noise production
- record keeping
Training
The provision of training must be undertaken by a competent trainer.
Didac Ltd, one of the leading UK national health and safety training providers for woodworking industries, is recognised by the UK HSE as an accredited trainer.
The Woodwise Training Scheme provides a route to either gaining or, for experienced operators, demonstrating, the minimum level of skills required for operating woodworking machinery. The scheme’s certification programme consists of online learning modules with a practical test of competence.
Highlands College has been appointed as the training centre.
Background
The woodworking industry is a high risk working environment. As well as extensive use of dangerous machinery which can potentially cause a serious accident possibly resulting in a permanent disability, there are a number of serious health risks associated with the work, including:
- exposure to wood dust (eg occupational asthma)
- dermatitis
- manual handling
- noise
The use of woodworking machinery is considered particularly high risk and needs to be controlled. Machines operate at high speeds with sharp cutting edges. In many cases these are necessarily exposed to enable the machining process to take place.
Woodworking is probably the only industry where many machines are still hand fed. This often results in the hands of operators being exposed to danger. There is also a high risk of injury from the ejection of work pieces from the machine.
Following the practical guidance set out in the Woodworking ACoP will not only improve the management of health and safety in woodworking environments, but also help to confirm that the general duties, set out under Part 2 of the law, are being met.
Conclusion
The cross-section of joinery workshops visited by the HSI raised awareness of the Woodworking ACoP and the legal duties under the Health and Safety at Work (Jersey) Law 1989 (the law).
The initiative identified three common areas requiring additional measures to be put in place including:
- the provision of training by competent trainers
- safer measures to control wood dust
- to ensure the wellbeing of operators through suitable health surveillance
The initiative is ongoing with further visits being made to check compliance and give further advice.
A letter will be sent to all joinery workshops on the Island summarising the conclusions of the initiative and legal requirements.
For further information on the required standards of the safe use of woodworking machinery can be obtained by contacting the Health and Safety Inspectorate.
Working safely with woodworking machinery (ACoP)
gov.je