Finished wood products such as cabinets, floors, or furniture,
plywood, particle board, fiberboard, or even paper do not
present an obvious environmental hazard. Wood is plentiful at
our homes and workplaces, provides us with warmth and stability,
and can be highly useful in several industries. However, wood
manufacturers must embrace extreme methods to make wood product
manufacturing less harmful for their employees and prevent
accidents. In October of 2005, a wood products plant exploded in
Schofield, WI killing one worker. According to OSHA statistics
in 2009, 21 fatalities occurred in the Wood Industry alone. OSHA
also reports that “since 1980, more than 130 workers have been
killed and more than 780 injured in combustible dust
explosions.” Using robots in the wood industry allows wood
manufacturers to remove their employees from these dangerous
environments and utilize them more effectively, while at the
same time trim production costs. Wood manufacturing hazards
include dust inhalation during sanding an