Wood Dust and Material Handling Risk Assessment

Product Overview

This risk assessment covers wood dust and material handling activities, including planning, material movement, dust-generating work, cleanup, servicing and emergency response. It supports planning by identifying relevant hazards and considering measures to manage exposure, manual handling, mobile plant and shared work areas.

Activities & Risks Covered

This assessment addresses activities and risks including:

• Review the task, dust generation points, handling methods, ventilation and emergency arrangements before starting.
• Receive, unload and move timber, sheet goods and finished materials.
• Store and stack timber, boards and offcuts to maintain stable storage and clear access ways.
• Carry out cutting, sanding, machining and other dust-generating work.
• Manage ventilation, exposure monitoring and respiratory protection for airborne contaminants.
• Complete housekeeping and cleanup to address dust, offcuts and waste build-up.
• Handle, bag, transfer and dispose of timber waste and dust.
• Coordinate material movement around forklifts, loaders and other shared work areas.
• Service dust systems, clear blockages and undertake maintenance activities.
• Respond to dust exposure symptoms, fire and other emergency concerns.

Who is this for?

Suitable for contractors, workers, supervisors and businesses carrying out wood dust and material handling activities.

Activities & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

The template records model guidance used to inform the documented controls. Applicable WHS/OHS laws and adopted Codes vary by state or territory, so confirm the current local requirements when tailoring the assessment:

• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Hazardous manual tasks — 4.1 The hierarchy of control measures; p. 31.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities — 2. The work environment; p. 13.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing electrical risks in the workplace — 2.1 Identifying the hazards; p. 14.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: First aid in the workplace — 3. First aid equipment, facilities and training; p. 12.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace — Assessing plant risks — work practices and procedures; p. 20.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace — 2.2 Safety Data Sheets (SDS); p. 16.
• Model guidance: Model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks — 5. Step 4 — How to review controls; p. 27.

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Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)

• Activity-specific hazard identification and control measures
• Initial and residual risk ratings
• Assigned responsible persons for each activity
• Risk matrix and assessment classification
• Review, monitoring and sign-off fields
• Site-specific customisation before use