The timber used in construction can be contaminated with a great diversity of contaminants. Discover the general recommendations on how to manage contaminated wood.
When handling contaminated wood is important to:
- Ensure all workers are provided with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE): Gloves, dust mask, and goggles.
- Work outdoors where possible to reduce inhalation risks and always wear goggles.
- Clean treated timber sawdust as you work by dampening it or using a HEPA-filtered vacuum.
- When working indoors, use dust extraction systems and ensure vacuums are fitted with HEPA filters.
- Cover cuts or abrasions to prevent exposure to treated timber or sawdust.
- Mist, sweep, and bag sawdust daily, then wet-clean all surfaces.
- Complete a final clean using a HEPA vacuum and wet-mop hard surfaces.
More information can be found on EDI Special Publication 2024. Do not hesitate to visit the EDI library to access all the publications.