Wood dust, commonly referred to as "sawdust", is an inevitable by-product in the woodworking industry.  Without effective dust collectors, wood dust not only creates a mess in your shop, it can also cause health problems for you and your employees.  In fact, wood dust is actually classified as a particulate airborne contaminant.

Plain Old Wood Dust is a Serious Health Hazard
This issue is so serious that the Department of Health and Human Services added wood dust to its official list of "known human carcinogens" and OSHA has identified wood dust as a potential health risk.  Wood dust has been associated with a number of health hazards, including allergies, asthma, skin rashes, and eye, nose and throat irritation.   Studies indicate that up to 13% of woodworkers are afflicted with dust-induced asthma.  Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are also caused by breathing in fine wood dust particles.  Even a rare type of nasal cancer has also been linked to wood dust exposure.  It is estimated that one third of all woodworkers experience some form of adverse health effects due to exposure to wood dust.  Wood dust from table saws and other machinery send vast amounts of harmful particles into the air.

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For industrial environments that deal with a lot of grinding, sanding, polishing, etc., having a dust collection system integrated into the facility is almost a necessity these days. As the concern for employee safety and shop air quality continues to grow, dust collection systems are becoming more important than ever.

There are benefits to using centralized systems, but there is also a minimal margin for error. Evaluating an application and designing a system to accommodate that application can take a turn for the worse if not carefully thought out; that means not only the equipment itself, but the ductwork layout must be precise, otherwise failure could result. Each type of machine or tool, whether it’s used for grinding metal gears or hogging wood shavings, will have its own airflow requirement. Once the total airflow requirement has been determined, the length and amount of ducting must be considered in order to properly calculate the pressure differential, to ensure that all of the tools are getting their assigned flow rate while overcoming the pressure drop through the duct.

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