Sawmills

Sawmill operations include, but are not limited to, log and lumber handling, sawing, trimming, and planing; waste disposal; operation of dry kilns; finishing; shipping; storage; yard and yard equipment; and for power tools and affiliated equipment used in connection with such operations, but excluding the manufacture of plywood, cooperage, and veneer.

Sawmills

Tab/Accordion Items

What are the hazards associated with sawmills?

Lack of machine guarding can result in serious physical injury (e.g., broken bones and amputation of fingers), and even death, to employees. The lack of personal protective equipment or the use of inappropriate personal protective equipment can result in serious injury, illness or death when engineering and administrative controls have not been (fully) implemented to eliminate or reduce exposure to a particular hazard.

Loud noise can create physical and psychological stress, reduce productivity, interfere with communication and concentration, and contribute to workplace accidents and injuries by making it difficult to hear warning signals.

What can I do to protect myself?

Employers are required to ensure that employees have been trained and have the proper equipment to prevent falls. Employees need to use the personal protective equipment provided for the varying job tasks.

Your employer is required to conduct a workplace hazard assessment, a part of which should include the identification of processes and materials that are capable of producing combustible dust. In addition, the employer is also responsible to inform employees about the physical hazards, as well as the health hazards, associated with any materials used in the workplace.

Before using any chemical, information on the label and accompanying information (e.g., safety data sheets) should be consulted in order to identify any personal protective equipment necessary to prevent direct contact through inhalation, splash or spatter to eyes, nose or mouth, or skin contact.

What resources are available to assist employers?

Safety and Health Programs

The electrical safety-related work practices policy, lockout/tagout program, fall protection guide, hazard communication, hearing conservation, chain saw policy and respiratory protection can be downloaded and customized to fit the individual workplace. An example PPE hazard assessment is available and can be customized to fit workplace conditions. Employers are required to perform a workplace hazard analysis to determine what personal protective equipment is necessary to protect employees from continued exposure to identified hazards. Other example safety and health programs are available for employers to download and adapt to their specific conditions.

Training and Outreach Services

The lockout/tagout, personal protective equipment, electrical safety, powered industrial trucks, fall protection, hazard communication, hearing conservation and respiratory protection presentations are available to assist employers in training their staff. Other example presentations are available along with pre-recorded webinars which can be accessed at any time. 

In addition, the education, training and technical assistance bureau provides free online safety and health training and outreach services (i.e., speaker's bureau requests, safety booths) upon request. 

Lastly, the NCDOL Library offers free safety and health videos (including streaming video services) and related research assistance on consensus standards (i.e., ANSI, NFPA, NEC).

Safety and Health Topics

Related resources can be found on safety and health topic pages for lockout/tagout, electrical safety, machine guarding, hand and portable powered tools, powered industrial trucks, fall protection, respiratory protection, medical services and first aid, chain saw safety, logging, combustible dust, hazard communication, noise, pulp, paper and paperboard mills, illumination and personal protective equipment for more information.

Consultation Services

The consultative services bureau provides free and confidential onsite consultation regarding worksite safety and health hazards.

Which standards apply?

OSH has adopted the following standards which are applicable to sawmills in North Carolina. This is not all inclusive.

Note: Please also check the standards information and activity webpage to see if there has been any recent or upcoming regulatory activity on this topic.

General Industry

Other Related General Industry Standards

Recordkeeping

Other Applicable Standards

The Which OSHA Standards Apply webpage can also help identify other standards that may be applicable to your worksite.

Where can I learn more?

Industry Guides

Compliance Documents

  • CFR 157 - Sawmills provides the promulgation of the rule.
  • Compliance Directive: CPL 03-00-008 establishes enforcement policy regarding combustible dust and identifies applicable standards and laws and an explanation of the application of these to ensure uniform enforcement.
  • OSHA Technical Manual (TED 01-00-015) provides technical information about workplace hazards and controls to OSHA’s Compliance Safety and Health Officers.

Hazard Alerts

Technical Assistance

  • Inquiries about workplace safety and health requirements can be submitted to Ask OSH online or by phone at 919-707-7876.