Safety advice for carpenters and joiners
Posted on 5th May, 2015 | By Lorretta Tatham
From fitting floorboards to fixing roof trusses and building storage and shelving for retail outlets, carpenters and joiners get involved in a wide variety of construction projects, all of which carry risks.
In fact, the woodworking industry has one of the highest accident rates in manufacturing.
While most of these accidents are caused by contact with moving machinery, there are many other health and safety risks that it’s important to be aware of.
Top 10 health and safety risks for carpenters and joiners
- Falls from a height. All carpenters and joiners will find themselves using access equipment at some point in their career. Understanding how to use such equipment safely is critical.
- Asbestos related health issues. Working in buildings where asbestos may be present presents real risks. Learn how to spot the risks and manage them in our blog post on asbestos.
- Slips, trips and falls. A common cause of accidents in many industries; this becomes even more of a risk when working on roofs or fragile flooring that may fall through.
- Manual handling issues. Moving around materials and tools pose a real risk if not carried out safely. It’s important not to get into bad habits and to remember to follow safe manual handling guidance.
- Risks from improper use of machinery and tools. From ladders to abrasive wheels, failing to set up equipment safely and checking it’s in fully working order can lead to serious accidents.
- Injury to the eyes or skin – from particles or through poor use of equipment or machinery.
- Risks from falling objects. As with all trades, wearing the correct PPE is important. Hard hats, goggles, ear defenders and gloves are all important.
- Exposure to electricity. Managing the risks by using proper equipment here is key – for example, fibreglass ladders in situations where you may be exposed to electricity.
- Hand and foot injury (see point seven).
- Working in confined spaces. Lack of oxygen poses a real risk in this scenario. Our new Confined Spaces Training looks at the risks of working in such environments and gives guidance on how to stay safe.
Training courses for your trade
If you work in carpentry or joinery we’d recommend you take a look at our training courses. From Working at Heights Safety Training to Manual Handling, we have a wide range of courses that are suited to your trade.
After completing any one of our courses you’ll receive a certificate that will last for three years – at which time we recommend you refresh yourselves on the basics. We can offer our training courses at a location to suit you, or at our approved training centre.
To find out more about any of our training courses, contact us today on 01282 615 517 or chat to one of our expert advisors online.
