Background: Health, safety and well-being are important common values, which are put intornpractice in every workplace and for every employee. The world community has been facingrnincreasing risks of respiratory diseases due to smoke, dust exposure, indoor and outdoor airrnpollution, other occupational hazards, and infections in different industrial sectors. The woodrnprocessing industry is one of the largest manufacturing industries, which is incriminated forrnproducing occupational exposure to wood dusts that may cause numerous health problemsrnincluding acute or chronic respiratory diseases and lung function deficit.rnObjective: The overall objective of this study was to assess the respiratory functions andrnrespiratory symptoms in the Chip Wood Factory workers of Maichew (Tigray Region).rnMethods: A cross sectional study method was conducted on 100 study participants. The studyrnvariables included Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in one secondrn(FEV1), forced expiratory ratio (FEV1/FVC x100), FEF 25-75% and respiratory symptoms (cough,rnphlegm, wheezing and breathlessness).These variables were recorded in 50 non-smokingrnworkers exposed to wood dust and 50 non-smoking control subjects in Maichew town, TigrayrnRegion.rnResults: The distribution of personal protective devices (PPD) in the factory was not timely andrnsufficient, according to the response of some workers. Regarding the respiratory symptoms, thernPercentage prevalences of Cough, Phlegm, Wheeze and Breathlessness were 58%, 56%, 52%rnand 48% for exposed respondents, respectively and 10%, 22%, 20% and 32% for controlrnsubjects, respectively. Spirometric measurements showed that FVC (p=0.000) and FEV1rn(p=0.007) were significantly lower in exposed subjects than control subjects. Measurements ofrnFVC, FEV1 and FEF25-75% in 50 exposed workers showed statistically significant differencernbetween morning (before work) and afternoon (after work) values. The majority of exposedrnrespondents showed higher prevalence of restrictive respiratory defect, while the minorityrnshowed obstructive respiratory defects.rnConclusion and recommendations: workers exposed to wood dust have respiratory symptomsrnand risk of restrictive respiratory impairment. Timely distribution of PPD, creating awareness ofrnworkers about the proper utilization of PPD, and the effects of wood dust exposure will actuallyrnhelp to improve wellbeing of workers.rnKEY WORDS: wood dust; pulmonary tests; respiratory indices; respiratory impairments