mdf/custom wood

[looney]

a chap i hired for a few years is seriously ill with a brain tumor, top bloke, great worker and firm mate

he is no fool and has been investigating causes

there seems to be very few known links, but one is to a chemical used in mdf or customwood (not sure which, or if they are in fact the same thing)

but he worked as a cabinet maker renovator for years and used the stuff

he told me that they will not cut it when you buy it for safety reasons, but do not broadcast why

anyone else know of this?

[ozwinner]

Unfortuneatly all man made board is a danger to your health when cutting, I think it is the glue.
Read here.

Al

[looney]

he thinks it is not communicated enough

if they don't want to cut it for you, take it as a sign

mask lads

[ozwinner]

he thinks it is not communicated enough

Ignorance is no excuse unfortunatly.

Its really bad news that he has any form of illness from doing a job he obviously loves, but he should have kept himself well informed of industry changes.

He could have kept informed by joining an industry body like MBA or HIA, or contacting unions etc.

Al

[CameronPotter]

Equally unfortunately, for those of us who aren't in the trade, it is difficult to expect us all to be aware of all of the problems (or of even who to contact regarding these issues), as we can't join such unions I believe...

Thus, it would be good if there was some more awareness about such health risks.

[ozwinner]

Im not in the ( cabinetmaker ) trade and am aware of the dangers.
There was a story on the tv some years (10 or more years) ago about it.

Al

[Stuart]

Go to my site (www.tritonwoodworkers.org.au) and scroll down to Safety Articles. In there you will find an article by Mark Loader (an Occupational Health and Safety Advisor with the Master Builders Association of Victoria) about MDF dangers, and the reasons why it is.

[echnidna]

It was the formalin used in the resins that was the major concern.
But very fine dust from cutting it is also unhealthy.

[looney]

maybe it's the drugs

[Stuart]

I have no problems getting my mdf cut at bunnings, I can fully understand why your friend is looking for a reason though.

When you get deep into sanding edges etc, the stuff starts looking like something not of this world. lol:eek:

Maybe it's all the dust in my eyes:eek:


HJ0

That's unusual, because as I understand it, Bunnings don't let their staff cut MDF because of the OHS risk (and presumably the future potential law suits).

[CameronPotter]

Im not in the ( cabinetmaker ) trade and am aware of the dangers.
There was a story on the tv some years (10 or more years) ago about it.

Al

I was aware of it too - but I tend to try to be super safe where possible; afterall, I only have one body. However, I can easily understand how someone wouldn't have heard such things. For instance CA glue, plenty of people still don't know about how nasty that stuff is.

Cam

[Markw]

I been told that the chemical entity is formaldehyde. Back in the 80's, extended family BIL used to work at an artificial timber (Ply & MDF) manufacturer up in the Oberon area.

On a good day he would come home with a headache, on bad days, bleeding nose, blood shot eyes and the headache. Always crook with some virus or other.

He didn't last at the place all that long and ended up saying that he would rather be on the dole that put up with those sort of conditions. Definitely a smart move to get out but hard on his family. Haven't touched the stuff since.

PS Sorry Echidna, didn't realise that Formalin and Formaldehyde are one in the same. Its combined with phenol to produce a phenolic resin (glue) to bond the material together.

[Markw]

For instance CA glue, plenty of people still don't know about how nasty that stuff is.

Cameron, If we continue to call it CA instead of Cyanoacrylate where some might notice the "Cyano" (a cyanide compound) or even "acrylate" (acrylic compound??) and could see for themselves that caution is warranted.

To quote some text from wikipedia
The most dangerous cyanides are hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and salts derived from it, such as potassium cyanide (KCN) and sodium cyanide (NaCN), but including others. Also some compounds readily release HCN or the cyanide ion, such as trimethylsilyl cyanide (CH3)3SiCN upon contact with water and cyanoacrylates upon pyrolysis.

[HJ0]

[quote=stuart_lees]That's unusual, because as I understand it, Bunnings don't let their staff cut MDF because of the OHS risk (and presumably the future potential law suits).[/quote


..................................................................

Not unusual for me, because if they don't cut mdf it will not fit in my vechicle which means no sale for them.

OHS risk maybe, but I'm not paying approx 40% more to buy little pre cut managable mdf sizes.

Running a business is about taking risks in some form or another. When people purchase(are employed or run) anything there will always be some kind of risk involved before during and after.

ie Traveling to/waiting for/dealing with, who knows what nasty ingredience after purchase.

The average person has enough on their plate, without the worry of a company doing the right or wrong things.Thats why we pay politicans/lawyers etc etc etc huge bucks.


HJ0

[Lignum]

I been told that the chemical entity is formaldehyde. Back in the 80's, extended family BIL used to work at an artificial timber (Ply & MDF) manufacturer up in the Oberon area.

On a good day he would come home with a headache, on bad days, bleeding nose, blood shot eyes and the headache. Always crook with some virus or other.

I use urea formaldahyde alot because its a brilliant glue. I always use gloves because if it gets on my skin even for a minute it gives me realy bad migranes. MDF isnt a problem for me at all, even on the rare occasion im cutting up a great load of it i fell no effect at all.

The latest reserch from the UK staits their is no problem with MDF as the chemicals dissipate and lose any harmfull effect almost as soon as its cut.