Since 1987, a team of researchers from the University of British Columbia has been studying the health of 26,000 workers who were employed in 11 coastal and 3 interior sawmills for at least one year between 1950 and 1985.

Our overall goal is to investigate whether chemicals, dusts, and other potential exposures in the sawmills cause work-related illnesses and injuries. The results of our research have been used to help develop improved prevention strategies.

The original purpose of our study was to examine the effects of chlorophenate antisapstain fungicides, which are no longer used in BC sawmills. We are now examining other issues including wood dust, noise, accidental deaths, stress, unemployment, and retraining.

This website outlines the results of our studies, and provides a searchable database of all associated publications. The website is organized by workplace hazard and by health effects. Please use the links above to learn more.