Working in a sawmill is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. Massive weights and falling, rolling, or sliding logs can be very dangerous. Sawmill equipment also can be hazardous, particularly when workers use machines improperly or without proper safeguards. Lacerations, severed fingers, and blindness are some of the injuries that may occur. Wood dust and chemicals used for finishing products may cause skin and respiratory diseases.

Sawmill hazards are even more dangerous in light of environmental conditions, such as uneven, unstable or rough terrain, inclement weather or isolated work sites where health care facilities are not immediately accessible.