Cabinet Shop Workers
Cabinet and millwork shops cut, shape, assemble and finish wood, plywood and composites. Machines like table saws and edgebanders can amputate fingers in an instant, and dust and finishing chemicals harm lungs and start fires.
- Cabinetmakers
- Millwork
- Finishers
Hazards
- Saws and shapers: kickback and contact injuries. See Table Saw and Routers.
- CNC routers and panel saws: large moving parts, flying chips and automatic starts.
- Edgebanders: hot glue, trimming knives and nip points.
- Wood dust and composite dust: respiratory disease, nasal cancer risk and explosion hazard. Medium-density fiberboard and particleboard contain formaldehyde resins. See Wood Dust and Formaldehyde.
- Finishing: lacquers, stains and solvents are flammable and toxic. See Spray Booths.
- Lifting sheet goods: 4 by 8 foot sheets are heavy and awkward.
- Noise from saws, planers and dust collectors.
- Fire from sparks, dust and oily rags. See Spontaneous Combustion.
Machine safety
- Keep guards, riving knives and dust hoods in place. Use push sticks and push blocks. See Machine Guarding.
- Use feed devices and hold-downs. Never stand in line with a possible kickback.
- Wear no gloves near rotating tools, no loose clothing, and tie back long hair.
- Lock out machines before changing blades, bits or clearing jams. See Group Lockout.
- Know the CNC emergency stop and keep people out of the work envelope.
- Train on each machine before use.
Dust, fumes and fire
- Connect machines to dust collection; vacuum, do not blow or sweep dust
- Wear a respirator when sanding or when controls fall short; follow a program. See Respiratory Protection
- Finish in a ventilated booth with proper filters; no ignition sources
- Store flammable finishes in approved cabinets and rags in metal cans
- Keep fire extinguishers and sprinklers clear; clean dust from ledges and lights
Body care
Use panel carts, vacuum lifters and a second person for sheets. Wear hearing protection and eye protection. Report cough, wheeze, nosebleeds or hand problems. See Lifting Ergonomics.
Standards & references
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