Company & Application
Based in East Sussex, United Kingdom, MossWood Studio provide bespoke carpentry and functional artwork, working with wood and other similar carpentry materials. Throughout their working day, processes such as sawing, cutting and grinding soft and hardwoods occur.
Recording the behind-the-scenes and end results of creating high-end artwork using carpentry processes has made the Studio a viral sensation – what we saw as a perfect opportunity to collaborate and demonstrate how the AIR X range can be used in various different applications.
The Challenge
With the woodworking processes which occur, exposure to dust is commonplace and whilst total elimination of airborne dust is ideal, it’s not always possible due to the nature of materials being worked with.
From this, following the Hierarchy of Controls, introducing administration and engineering controls are often required, and finding out effective ways to implement these measures was needed.
This is where the XD1+ came into play. We contacted Amos from MossWood Studio after seeing his viral videos to support him on finding the most effective control measures for him to reduce personal, and wider environmental, exposure to wood dust whilst working on his carpentry projects and artwork.
The XD1+ plan
We supplied MossWood Studio with an XD1+ Personal Dust Monitor and BreatheMOBILE supporting software and challenge them to see how much dust they were exposed to in a standard working day.
Rather than seeing the dust on the floor or across areas of the workshop and just putting on the first mask available, we discussed with Amos how XD1+ can provide instant alerts and data on dust levels, and support making effective decisions about how to control dust, particularly in ways which benefits the workplace and other contributing factors, such as costs and time.
The XD1+ solution
XD1+ was both worn and stationed across different areas and processes in the studio to get the best exposure to potential dust levels. After a full day of using the XD1+ during carpentry and woodworking processes, dust levels reached a peak of 1.663μg/m³ for PM4.25 over an 8-hour TWA (time-weighted average).
This data was significant to Amos, as it’s allowed him to gain a deeper understanding in the exposure risk he’s now dealing with: “The XD1+ is perfect to identify which extraction system you need and what sort of level of dust is lurking in your workplace.”
XD1+ was also used at a later date in the week when cleaning up the studio. Again, following the Hierarchy of Controls, it helped Amos to learn exactly when and where dust levels were spiking when cleaning up, and subsequently wear a mask, or introduce certain types of suppression.
What this means moving forward
“Every single day I ask myself the same question. How much dust am I actually exposed to?” said Amos, as dust exposure has been something on his mind for a while, but never having that right tool to accurately deal with it. But it’s not just knowing how much dust is occurring during a standard working day.
“Having this data is now definitely pointing me in towards buying the right extraction system” Amos continued, explaining that knowing how much dust you’re exposed to is relevant to your workplace and helps you to determine the specific of whatever control measures you’re introducing, whether that’s the type of mask, extraction or maintenance processes.
