Medium-density Fibreboard

HC Deb 18 November 1997 vol 301 cc131-3W

Mr. Jenkins

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the findings of the Health and Safety Executive's review of the international literature into the health effects of medium-density fibreboard. [16067]

Angela Eagle

The literature review into the health effects of medium-density fibreboard being conducted by HSE is expected to be published in June 1998.

Mr. Jenkins

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the research phase of the Health and Safety Executive's investigation into the health effects of medium-density fibreboard will be completed. [16068]

Angela Eagle

The Health and Safety Executive estimate that the research phase could take about 18 months to two years, but this depends very much on what work is identified as being necessary from the literature review.

Mr. Jenkins

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Health and Safety Executive is taking to encourage the use of safer alternatives to medium-density fibreboard in the construction industry. [16063]

Angela Eagle

None. Alternatives to medium-density fibreboard (MDF) may also present risks to health, depending on how they are used. The Health and Safety Executive is of the opinion that any health risks arising from the use at work of MDF, and the alternatives, can and should be effectively controlled by compliance with the requirements of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994.

Mr. Jenkins

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the maximum exposure limit to softwood dust set by(a) the United Kingdom Health and Safety Executive, (b) other European Union member states, (c) the United States of America, (d) Japan and (e) Australia. [16066]

Angela Eagle

The maximum exposure limits to softwood dust are

1. (a) Softwood dust has been assigned a maximum exposure limit (MEL) of 5 milligrams per cubic metre (mg/m³) for an 8-hour time weighted average under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994 (COSHH).
2. (b) No other EU member state has a specific occupational exposure limit for softwood dust although some have limits for wood dust in general.
3. (c) In the United States, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists has recommended an 8-hour threshold limit value of 5 mg/m³ and a short term limit of 10 mg/m³.
4. (d) There is no information available on the occupational exposure limit for softwood dust for Japan.
5. (e) In Australia a limit of 5 mg/m³ has been assigned for softwood dust.

Under COSHH employers are required to control exposures to softwood dust to a level as low as is reasonably practicable and in any case below the MEL. It is therefore misleading to compare the numerical value of the MEL with limits in other countries, where limits have different definitions and applications.

Mr. Jenkins

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Health and Safety Executive is taking to ensure that, where there are no alternatives to the use of medium-density fibreboard in the construction industry, employers use low or zero formaldehyde emission board. [16064]

Angela Eagle

The Health and Safety Executive is of the opinion that effective control of medium density fibreboard (MDF) dust, coupled with good general ventilation, will adequately control exposure to formaldehyde vapour. British Standards restrict the amount of formaldehyde that can be used in making medium density fibreboard. An HSE survey monitoring exposure to formaldehyde during the machining of MDF has found levels to be substantially below the current maximum exposure limit for formaldehyde. Low or zero formaldehyde emission board use other binding resins which may contain hazardous components.