'Ridiculous' health and safety rules tell carpenters to ban the broom
By Richard Alleyne
20/07/2008
Carpenters and woodworkers have been told not to use brooms to sweep up sawdust because they are considered dangerous under "ridiculous" new health and safety guidelines.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) claims that sweeping up wood chippings in dusty workplaces can provoke asthma attacks and long term exposure lead to nose cancer.
Instead they are advising carpentry firms to buy state-of-the-art vacuum cleaners and air purification systems which can cost thousands of pounds.
Small companies say they cannot afford the equipment but are repeatedly nagged to upgrade during safety checks.
Sherry Coles, who deals with health and safety for Shapet Joinery in Bristol, said the firm has been using brooms for 25 years without incident.
She said: "Brooms are a quick and easy way of cleaning up and we've been using them for 25 years now without any problems.
"We're aware of the sweeping guidelines but as a small company we have limited resources and can't meet it 100 per cent.
"I know health and safety is important for employees but I believe in the future you won't be able to sneeze without filling in a form.
"People should be allowed to use their own initiative and common sense. If you had dust in your house you would just sweep it up. It's getting beyond a joke."
The boss of a joinery firm in Tayside, Scotland - who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of more health and safety checks - said: "I've been using a broom since Jesus's old man was a carpenter.
"This advice it totally off the wall. Industrial vacuum cleaners are expensive and they aren't nearly as good as an apprentice armed with a stiff-bristled brush."
Michael Lee, secretary of the British Woodworking Association, welcomed the recommendations but agreed firms would struggle to pay for new machines.
He said: "The cost of industrial vacuums can range from several hundreds of pounds to over £1,500 for the more powerful type of cleaner."
A HSE spokesman said the guidance is designed to protect UK joiners - who are four times more likely to get asthma than the average worker.
He said: "The guideline is advice and it's certainly not mandatory. Tests have repeatedly proven wood dust can cause asthma or even cancer.
"Our advice would be for companies to invest in high-powered vacuum cleaners but it's not a requirement under law."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2307275/%27Ridiculous%27-health-and-safety-rules-tell-carpenters-to-ban-the-broom.html