Elimination of risks arising from exposure to chemical substances and reduction of exposure to wood dust and noise in the timber industry

Type of measure: Substitution, Technical

Barlinek S.A. produces domestic and exotic wood flooring products. Roughly 1400 people are employed in this timber company. In 2000, it launched a programme to improve workers safety and health to target the main hazardous factors at the workplace, i.e. exposure to wood dust. Barlinek S.A. aims to protect workers health by:

a) eliminating or reducing the main hazardous factors at the workstations (chemical substances, wood dust and noise)
b) applying materials, components and technological processes that meet safety requirements, e.g. not creating explosion hazards
c) decreasing the number of materials and components used in manufacturing processes and reducing the amount of timber waste (pro-ecological investments)

More information

Barlinek Inwestycje Sp. z o.o.

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Published June 20, 2018

Please note that this substance or some of it's compounds are listed in Annex XIV (REACH regulation). This substance some of it's compounds are only allowed to be used, imported, or brought into the market, if authorisation requirements of REACH are fulfilled.

Please be aware that for this carcinogen you need to be more cautious when determining potential skin contact and how to regard dermal exposure in your risk reduction strategy.

Relevance

Carcinogens involved:
Hardwood dust

Sector(s) involved:
Manufacturing
Manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork
Manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials
Manufacture of wood and wood products

About this case

Company:

Barlinek Inwestycje Sp. z o.o.

Country:
Poland

For more information please contact:

Marek Konstańczak, Production Manager

[email protected]

General facts

Facts about cancer-causing agents:

The direct costs of carcinogen exposure at work across Europe are estimated at 2.4 billion Euros per year.
Every year, about 120.000 persons get cancer from exposure to carcinogens at work
Annually more than 100.000 people die because of work-related cancer.