Not just a nuisance — a known cause of cancer
Wood dust is classed by IARC as a Group 1 carcinogen — it causes nasal cancer, and is linked to lung cancer. It also causes occupational asthma and dermatitis. Hardwood is treated as higher-risk, but all wood dust, including softwood and MDF, should be managed as a hazard. The most effective control is to capture the dust at the source with extraction — which protects everyone, unlike a respirator. Wood dust is also combustible, adding a fire and explosion risk.
Breathing wood dust over time causes nasal cancer — the International Agency for Research on Cancer classes wood dust as a Group 1 carcinogen, the same group as asbestos. It is also linked to lung cancer, and causes occupational asthma and skin dermatitis. Hardwood dust is considered higher-risk, but the evidence is not clear-cut, so it is prudent to treat all wood dust — hardwood, softwood and composites like MDF and particleboard — as hazardous. New Zealand has an interim workplace exposure standard for softwood dust of 2 milligrams per cubic metre.
The dustiest activities are sawing, shaping and sanding — by hand or machine — with sanding MDF producing especially high dust levels. Emptying dust-extraction and collection bags is another high-exposure task. Using compressed air, blowers or fans to move dust, or dry-sweeping floors, throws large amounts back into the air.
| Control | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Extraction at source | Local exhaust ventilation and on-tool extraction on saws, sanders and grinders — the most effective control, and it protects everyone, not just the person wearing a respirator. |
| Good practice | Use the correct blade or planer, water damping where practical, and an industrial vacuum — never compressed air, blowers or dry sweeping — to clean up. |
| Limit & protect | Limit the time each person spends on dusty work, and use respiratory protection when emptying vacuum or collection bags. |
| Monitor health | Monitor workers' health and the workplace, since PCBUs must ensure workers are not made ill by their work. |
Accumulated wood dust is combustible and can fuel a fire or, in the right conditions, a dust explosion — so keep dust from building up. The solvents, stains, varnishes and wood preservatives used alongside wood can also harm the liver, kidneys and nervous system, so manage them as hazardous substances. Manage the machinery itself under machine guarding, and read alongside silica & engineered stone for the wider dust picture.
Record where wood dust is a risk and keep your controls in one place. Book a demo and we'll show you how it works — free 30-day trial included.
Yes. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classes wood dust as a Group 1 carcinogen — a known cause of cancer in humans — most strongly linked to nasal cancer, and it is the same group as asbestos. It also causes asthma and dermatitis.
Hardwood dust is treated as higher-risk, but the evidence is not clear-cut, so all wood dust — hardwood, softwood and composites like MDF — should be managed as a hazard. New Zealand has an interim exposure standard for softwood dust of 2 milligrams per cubic metre.
Capture it at the source with local exhaust ventilation or on-tool extraction on saws, sanders and grinders. This is the most effective control because it protects everyone in the workshop, whereas a respirator only protects the person wearing it.
With an industrial vacuum. Never use compressed air, blowers, fans or dry sweeping, which throw large amounts of dust back into the air. Wear respiratory protection when emptying vacuum or collection bags.
Yes. Accumulated wood dust is combustible and can fuel a fire or a dust explosion in the right conditions, so it should not be allowed to build up on surfaces and equipment.
