Furniture Industry OHS: İnegöl and Bursa

OHS in furniture production: a chain of risks from dust to fire

İnegöl is a well-known center of furniture production. Alongside the İnegöl Organized Industrial Zone (OIZ) and the İnegöl specialized OIZ for furniture and woodworking, numerous workshops spread across the district form a strong production network together with manufacturers in Kestel and central Bursa. In this network, family-run workshops and large factories alike face the same fundamental risks.

Furniture manufacturing (31.00.01) is in the hazardous class in the list renewed under NACE Rev.2.1. This means an OHS specialist holding at least a class B certificate, a minimum of 20 minutes of specialist time and 10 minutes of physician time per employee per month, periodic medical examinations at least every 3 years, and basic OHS training of at least 12 hours. If you also carry out other activities such as upholstery, veneering, sawmilling or panel production, the code of each must be checked separately; where there is more than one main activity, the higher class applies.

In furniture workshops, the risks feed one another. Fine wood dust generated at circular saws, planers and CNC machining centers threatens respiratory health and also accumulates on machines, in ducts and in ceiling voids, becoming fuel for fires and dust explosions. If paint and varnish are applied in the same building, solvent vapor is added to the picture. Warehouses full of foam, fabric and packaging further increase the fire load.

That is why we build OHS in furniture businesses on three pillars:

Machine safety: Saw guards, anti-kickback devices, push sticks and lockout during blade changes
Dust management: Extraction at source, cyclone and filter maintenance, dust measurement and chest X-ray follow-up
Fire: A dust-cleaning program, electrical panels, separation of the finishing area, firefighting teams and drills

Bursa Sistemer OSGB serves all districts of Bursa, including İnegöl, and delivers fire training itself as theoretical and hands-on sessions.

The risks we encounter most often on site

Circular saws and planers

Kickback, hand contact with the blade and pushing short pieces by hand are the most frequent causes of limb injuries. Blade guards, riving knives, push sticks and braking systems are inspected regularly.

Wood dust

Fine dust from machining hardwood and MDF carries risks of respiratory disease and sensitization. Because hardwood dust is classed among carcinogenic agents, the extraction system and measurements are critical.

Dust accumulation and fire

Dust built up on machines, in ducts and in filter units can turn a small spark into a major fire. The risk of dust explosion in filter and cyclone areas is assessed separately.

Paint, varnish and adhesives

Solvent-based paints, varnishes and adhesives create both respiratory exposure and explosive atmosphere risks. Spray booth ventilation, zone classification and stored quantities are inspected.

Upholstery and assembly

Pneumatic staplers and screwdrivers, adhesive vapors and manual handling of heavy panels are the typical risks of upholstery and assembly departments.

Noise

Planers, thicknessers and CNC machining centers produce high noise levels. Hearing protection and audiometry are planned according to the measurement results.

Sample NACE codes and hazard classes

Your hazard class is determined by the NACE code in your Social Security Institution (SGK) registration. Examples of common codes in this industry:

NACE	Activity	Hazard class
31.00.01	Manufacture of bedroom, kitchen and similar furniture	Hazardous

If your code is not listed, send it to us and we will confirm it against the current official list. Calculate the obligations for your class →

Health surveillance and medical testing plan

Since furniture manufacturing is in the hazardous class, periodic medical examinations are carried out at least every 3 years. Wood dust and noise are the two main drivers of the test plan.

Chest X-ray

Workers exposed to wood dust receive chest X-rays conforming to the ILO standard; the physician sets the frequency based on dust measurement results and the duration of exposure.

Spirometry

The legislation sets no fixed frequency for spirometry; the physician makes a risk-based decision for workers in sanding, CNC and finishing departments. The pre-employment value is the reference point for later measurements.

Audiometry

If the value measured in planer and thicknesser areas exceeds the upper exposure action value of 85 dB(A), audiometry is mandatory; above 80 dB(A) it may be carried out at the physician’s discretion.

Eyes and skin

Dust-related eye irritation and skin complaints caused by adhesives and varnishes are asked about during examinations; recurring cases are fed back into the risk assessment.

Periodic inspections to keep track of

Dust extraction, cyclone and filter systems (ventilation): at least once a year
Spray booth ventilation: at least once a year
Compressors and air receivers: once a year at operating pressure
Forklifts and pallet trucks (panel and shipping areas): at least once a year
Conveyor-based finishing and packaging lines: at least once a year
Indoor electrical installation and earthing: at least once a year
Lightning protection systems: at least once a year
Fire detection, hydrants, sprinklers and extinguishers: at least once a year
Industrial racking and doors: at least once a year

Industry-specific training topics

Safe work on circular saws and planers
Lockout/tagout (LOTO) during blade changes
Wood dust and selecting dust masks
Dust cleaning and fire prevention
Explosive atmospheres in paint and varnish areas
Manual handling of panels and carcasses
Using fire extinguishers and fire drills
Safety with pneumatic staplers and hand tools

How we apply our services in this industry

OHS Specialist ServicesOur OHS specialist, holding at least a class B certificate, checks machine guards, dust accumulation, the finishing area and escape routes during regular visits and reports findings with photographs. Risk AssessmentWe prepare separate sections for cutting, machining, sanding, finishing, upholstery and the warehouse, and score dust explosion and fire scenarios separately. Health Surveillance and Periodic ExaminationsWe prepare the chest X-ray, spirometry and audiometry plan based on dust and noise measurement results and schedule the tests with authorized healthcare providers. Fire TrainingWe prepare your firefighting teams with theoretical and hands-on fire training that we deliver ourselves, and run drills with scenarios specific to your workshop. Emergency Plan and DrillsWe prepare a plan covering fire and dust explosion scenarios and lay out evacuation maps for posting at entrances and on each floor. Periodic Inspection of Work EquipmentWe track the inspection due dates for dust extraction, compressors, forklifts, electrical and fire systems in an annual schedule; the inspections themselves are provided through our solution partners, carried out by authorized persons registered in EKİPNET (the Ministry’s register of authorized inspectors). Vocational Training (MEB-Approved)We check whether your woodworking positions fall within the scope of vocational training requirements and, where needed, arrange Ministry of National Education (MEB) approved 40-hour modules matching your production, provided through our solution partners.

Documents you should have ready for an inspection

Current risk assessment (with fire and dust explosion sections)
Emergency plan, evacuation maps and annual drill form
Firefighting, rescue, protection and first aid team lists
Dust and noise workplace measurement reports
Chest X-ray and audiometry results, Annex 2 (EK-2) forms
Inspection reports for dust extraction, compressors, electrical and fire systems
Safety data sheets (SDS) for paints, varnishes and adhesives
Induction and basic OHS training records
First aider certificates (1 per 15 employees)
Explosion protection document for finishing and dust areas
PPE issue records (dust masks, hearing protection, safety glasses)

Areas where this industry is concentrated

Frequently asked questions

Is our small furniture workshop in İnegöl also in the hazardous class?

Furniture manufacturing (31.00.01) is in the hazardous class in the current list, and the class does not depend on the number of employees. Small workshops must therefore also appoint an OHS specialist holding at least a class B certificate and a workplace physician, and must not let anyone start work without a fitness-for-work report. Law No. 6331 on Occupational Health and Safety provides for state support for hazardous and very hazardous workplaces with fewer than 10 employees; we confirm the current practice together at the application stage. You can see your obligations with the calculator.

Which tests are needed for wood dust?

Workers exposed to dust receive chest X-rays conforming to the ILO standard; the physician sets the frequency. The legislation sets no fixed frequency for spirometry and other tests; the physician decides based on dust measurement results and the department worked in. Dust measurements must be carried out by a laboratory holding a proficiency certificate from the Directorate General of Occupational Health and Safety (İSGGM); results from an uncertified laboratory are invalid. We arrange measurements with authorized laboratories and enter the results in the risk assessment.

Is there really a dust explosion risk in a furniture workshop?

Yes, particularly in filter units, cyclones and enclosed ducts where fine sanding dust accumulates. When dust is suspended in the air at a sufficient concentration, a spark can trigger an explosion. These areas must be addressed separately in the risk assessment and, where necessary, an explosion protection document must be prepared. In practice, the most effective measures are regular dust cleaning, maintenance of the extraction system, earthing and control of ignition sources.

How many support team members and first aiders should we appoint?

In the hazardous class, at least one support team member is appointed for each of the firefighting, rescue and protection teams for up to 40 employees; in workplaces with fewer than 10 employees, one person is sufficient for all three teams. One first aider is required for every 15 employees, and the first aid certificate is valid for 3 years. Refresher training must be taken within the 3 months before the certificate expires.

What should we do if the finishing area is not in a separate building?

If paint and varnish are applied in the same space as woodworking, solvent vapor and wood dust combine in the same environment; this is one of the riskiest layouts. Priority measures are separating the finishing area with fire-resistant construction, adequate ventilation, suitable electrical equipment in explosive atmosphere zones, and storing no more solvent than the daily requirement. Our OHS specialist enters solutions suited to your current layout in the risk assessment.

Is a vocational training certificate required in a furniture workshop?

For hazardous and very hazardous jobs listed in the annex to the vocational training regulation, workers must have received vocational training before being hired; people without a certificate may not be employed in these jobs. Valid certificates include master and journeyman certificates under Law No. 3308 on Vocational Education, Ministry of National Education (MEB) approved course certificates, and the Vocational Qualifications Authority (MYK) Vocational Qualification Certificate. We check the scope together and, where needed, arrange MEB-approved 40-hour modules matching your production, provided through our solution partners.

OHS services for the furniture industry in İnegöl and Bursa