Dust Free Floor Sanding
The importance of dust free floor sanding – minimising dust
The most obvious control measure is to create as little airborne dust as possible. Since one of the best methods of achieving this (water), is ruled out by nature of the surface we are working on, it is essential that anyone regularly floor sanding uses only professional floor sanding equipment which has far better dust control than the cheap hire sanders.
There are 5 main problems associated with wood dust, why dust free floor sanding is so important and the measures that can be taken to mitigate the danger.
Lung damage.
Like our old “friend” asbestos, fine wood dust can hang in the air and be breathed in. Whilst not as life threatening as asbestos this dust can cause very small wounds to the lungs which are not immediately noticeable but are irreversible and eventually diminish the lung capacity.
Irritation.
This is quite common and normally manifests itself by causing itching, sneezing, short term breathing problems, skin flushing, runny nose etc. Merbau, Ipe and Iroko are timbers regularly used in flooring that can commonly cause many of the above symptoms, although just about every timber is listed as an irritant at some level.
Sensitivity.
Some woods become more sensitive to us with repeated exposure. In other words, we react a little worse to them with each subsequent contact. Iroko is a timber which is listed as a sensitizer whilst the Merbau and Ipe are not.
Toxicity.
Some timbers are considered to be directly toxic, fortunately for us, none of those listed in the wood toxicity and allergen chart are in common use for flooring!
Cancer Causing
In this instance, we are referring to nasal cancer that can occur as a direct result of exposure to the dust from specific timbers. These cancers can affect any of the passages around the upper respiratory tract including the throat. Unfortunately, there are several timbers that can be used in flooring that pose a risk, including walnut and oak. Although it is rare, there is one very well-known case involving a prominent member of the floor sanding community.
