A.  Inhalation.  Wood dust is a positive human carcinogen (IARC/NTP).  An excess risk of nasal adenocarcinoma has been reported by workers in the furniture and cabinet-making industry.  This excess risk occurs mainly in those that involve exposure to wood dusts.  Some studies have suggested that the incidence of nasal cancers and Hodgkin’s disease may be increased in workers in the lumber and sawmill, carpentry and joinery trades.  Coughing, wheezing, sneezing, sinusitis, prolonged colds and other conditions have also been reported.

            Health Effects.  Depending upon the species, inhalation of wood dust may cause symptoms ranging from sneezing, coughing, rhinorrhea, fever, muscular aches and pains.  Labored breathing, naso-pharyngitis, laryngitis and bronchitis may result.  The irritation caused by some wood dusts may cause sinus inflammation and nose bleeds.  These symptoms have been attributed to an allergic type reaction and appear to be very species specific.  Pulmonary sensitization to specific species has also been documented.  Hypersensitivity pneumonitis or extrinsic allergic alveolitis may also occur among individuals that are susceptible to the wood dust.  Studies have shown that this condition may be caused by the wood dust itself.  There is the possibility that microorganisms inhabiting the wood may also be responsible for causing this condition in some individuals.  Many of the more exotic woods have been reported to cause nausea and vomiting.

            Chronic Exposure.  Repeated or prolonged exposure may result in asthma and/or rhinitis.  Studies have shown that occupational asthma is the result of irritation by the dust.  Many woods are composed of biologically active chemical agents and these may play a role in causing the asthmas.  Cases of pulmonary fibrosis have been reported in individuals with long-term exposure to wood dust.  Nasal carcinomas, especially adenocarcinoma, have been documented, as noted above.  Wood dusts appear to produce a mucostatic effect on the body which may be of importance in the development of nasal adenocarcinoma because of the prolonged retention of wood dust in the nasal cavity. 

            First Aid:  Remove from exposure area to fresh air immediately.  If breathing has stopped, perform artificial respiration.  Keep person warm and at rest.  Obtain medical attention immediately. 

            Prevention:  Use filtering devices and sophisticated dust respirator as detailed above. 

            B. Skin Contact.  Wood dust or particles can cause skin irritation.  Various species of wood dust can elicit allergic contact dermatitis in sensitized individuals.  Irritation may be the result of mechanical means and/or chemical agents.  Mechanically caused irritation is the result of dust articles being trapped in the clothes of the worker and producing abrasions.  The chemical agents may cause dermatitis with redness, scaling and itching.  Severe cases may progress to blistering of the skin.  The areas that are most often affected are the face, eyelids, hands and forearms.  Splinters from some hardwoods and softwoods may produce septic wounds that may heal slowly.

            Chronic Exposure:  Repeated or prolonged exposure may result in allergic dermatitis.  Sensitization reactions may be mild with only erythema and irritation.  But more often there is vesicular or popular dermatitis which may progress to chronic dermatitis.

            First Aid:  A thorough daily cleansing of the body is necessary in order to prevent adverse reactions to wood dust.  Any wound resulting from splinters or abrasions should be cleaned thoroughly.  Splinters should be removed as quickly as possible by qualified medical personnel.  If an infection from a splinter wound occurs, the victim should seek prompt medical attention.  Remove and wash contaminated clothing at the end of each day.

            C.  Eye Contact.  Direct contract with wood dust may cause irritation and inflammation.  Mechanical damage of the cornea may also occur. 

            Chronic Exposure:  Repeated or prolonged exposure may cause conjunctivitis.

            First Aid:  Wash eyes immediately with large amounts of water, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids, until no evidence of foreign substance remains.  Obtain medical attention immediately.

            Prevention:  Use of protective goggles.  See Seciton 8.

            D.  Ingestion.  Unlikely risk.

SECTION SEVEN:  SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS AND SPILL/LEAK PROCEDURES

Storage Precautions:  Store away from open flames.
Steps in Case of Spillage:  Collect dust and shavings and dispose in normal manner.
Waste Disposal Methods:  Consistent with Federal, state and local regulations.

Section Eight:  Protective Equipment/Control Measures 

A. Respiratory Protection.  The specific respirator selected for a job must be based on the contamination levels found in the work place.  Caution must be taken to avoid exceeding the working limits of the respirator and the device should be jointly approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Mine and Safety and Health Administration.  The following respirators are recommended, based on the data found in the physical data, health effects and toxicity sections.  They are ranked in order from minimum to maximum respiratory protection:

            1.  Dust masks, including single use.

            2.  Chemical cartridge respirator with an organic vapor cartridge with dust filter.

            3.  Gas mask with organic vapor canister (chin style or front--or back-mounted ) with dust filter.
            4.  Type "C" air respirator operated in pressure demand or other positive pressure/continuous flow mode. 
            5.  Self-contained breathing apparatus.

            B.  Ventilation.  Provide local exhaust or general dilution ventilation.  Ventilation must be explosion-proof.

            C.  Protective Gloves.  Clean work gloves of sufficient thickness to resist splinters.

            D.  Eye Protection:  Employee must wear splash-proof or dust resistant safety goggles to prevent eye contact with this substance.

            E.  Protective Clothing.  Employee should wear protective (impervious) clothing and equipment to prevent repeated or prolonged contact.

            F.  Firefighting Methods.  A self-contained breathing apparatus with full facepiece should be used, operating in pressure-demand or other positive pressure mode.

            G.  Other Work/Hygienic Practices:  Careful supervision is essential when handling Perfect Plank, particularly in the larger sizes and more dense species.  Since some plank weigh in excess of 200 pounds, painful lacerations, contusions and abrasions can result if bodily parts are exposed to plank in free fall (which can result from plank subjected to normal conditions of earthly gravity.)