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Injury Prevention Resources for Wood Products Manufacturing - Sawmills
The following links list tools, publications, and other resources to help prevent the most common injuries and illnesses in the wood products manufacturing industry. These resources may not meet all the requirements for health and safety in British Columbia. Please check the Workers Compensation Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, and related materials for specific WorkSafeBC requirements.
Sawmills
Sawmills — Inspections and industry resources
(HTML)
The tragic explosions and fires in two BC sawmills have caused significant concerns for this industry. WorkSafeBC will continue to provide updates and information regarding orders and inspections, investigations, and industry resources. This information can be accessed through the following links:
Workers wishing to contact WorkSafeBC regarding concerns about combustible dust or any other workplace health and safety issue may call the following numbers:
Prevention Information Line (Lower Mainland): 604-276-3100
Or toll-free within Canada: 1-888-621-7233
Saw kickbacks can be deadly (slide show)
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A worker dies after being struck by a board kicked back from a saw. Use safeguards to protect against saw kickbacks. (2 min 32 s) |
Source: WorkSafeBC 
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Chainsaw Safety - Sawmills (1 of 2) (video)
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This video describes in detail the fundamentals of safe chainsaw operation in sawmills, including saw selection, personal protective equipment, saw maintenance, saw operation, and cutting hazards. (11 min 34 s) |
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Source: WorkSafeBC
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Chainsaw Safety - Sawmills (2 of 2) (video)
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This video describes in detail the fundamentals of safe chainsaw operation in sawmills, including saw selection, personal protective equipment, saw maintenance, saw operation, and cutting hazards. (8 min 11 s) |
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Source: WorkSafeBC
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Lock out. It takes just seconds to lose a limb. (slide show)
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This slide show describes two accidents, each where a worker lost a limb following improper lockout. (2 min 58 s) |
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Source: WorkSafeBC
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Deaf to the Danger: Sawmill Scenario
(video)
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Earbuds are not part of the job. They isolate you from your work environment and workplace hazards. This video demonstrates the dangers associated with wearing earbuds on the job in a sawmill. (1 min 46 s) |
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Source: WorkSafeBC
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Hard Metal Hazards (PDF 260 KB)
This pamphlet provides important health information for saw filers and knife grinders.
Source: WorkSafeBC
How Loud Is It? Sawmills (PDF 76 KB)
A handout listing typical noise exposures in sawmills.
Source: WorkSafeBC
Sawmills eTool
This eTool is an interactive web-based training tool on the hazards associated with working in sawmills. It provides information on topics such as lumber storage, log handling, and plant-wide hazards.
Source: OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration, US)
Sawmill Safety
The purpose of this Wood Products Note is to help smaller lumber manufacturing companies develop their own safety program.
Source: Joseph Denig, Department of Wood and Paper Sciences, College of Forest Resources, North Carolina State University
Amputations in Forest Products
Manufacturing (PDF 260 KB)
This report looks at the amputations that occurred in the forest products manufacturing industry from 1993-1997. It examines the statistics behind the amputations and provides important information why and how many of these accidents occurred.
Source: WorkSafeBC
Critical Injury - Unguarded Cut-off Saw
"A worker received serious injuries to his left hand when he reached across the path of a 15 inch saw blade and inadvertently stepped on the foot pedal that activated the hydraulically controlled radial arm that moves the saw blade across the wood." (June 25, 1990)
Source: CCOHS (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety)
Sawmill Worker Injured by Lumber from Edger
"A sawmill worker was seriously injured as a result of a piece of lumber kicking-back from an edger." Includes tips on preventing this kind of accident.
Source: CCOHS (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety)
Sawmill Worker Caught Between Conveyor and Support Roller
"A young untrained sawmill worker with less than two weeks experience was seriously injured when caught between a conveyor and support roller." Includes tips on preventing this kind of accident.
Source: CCOHS (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
Lockout for Woodworking (slide show)
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De-energizing woodworking machinery when doing maintenance prevents injury. See the basic steps for locking out. (2 min 42 s) |
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Source: WorkSafeBC
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Housekeeping in Woodworking (slide show)
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Prevent slips, trips, falls, and injuries in your woodworking shop through simple housekeeping techniques. (1 min 46 s) |
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Source: WorkSafeBC
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A Guide for Protecting Workers from Woodworking Hazards (PDF 546 KB)
The guide describes the principal hazards of woodworking and the methods for controlling these hazards. (1999)
Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
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