The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) completed a study of combustible dust hazards in late 2006, which identified 281 combustible dust incidents between 1980 and 2005 that killed 119 workers and injured another 718. Based on these findings, the CSB recommended OSHA pursue a rulemaking on this issue. OSHA has previously addressed aspects of this risk. For example, on July 31, 2005, OSHA published the Safety and Health Information Bulletin, ‘‘Combustible Dust in Industry: Preventing and Mitigating the Effects of Fire and Explosions.’’ Additionally, OSHA implemented a Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program (NEP) on March 11, 2008, launched a new Web page, and issued several other guidance documents. However, the Agency does not have a comprehensive standard that addresses combustible dust hazards. OSHA will use the information gathered from the NEP to assist in the development of this rule.
OSHA published an ANPRM October 21, 2009. Additionally, stakeholder meetings were held in Washington, DC, on December 14, 2009, in Atlanta, GA, on February 17, 2010, and in Chicago, IL, on April 21, 2010. A webchat for combustible dust was also held on June 28, 2010, and an expert forum was convened on May 13, 2011.
OSHA plans to initiate the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA) process in February 2016.
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
Agency Contact: William Perry, Director, Directorate of Standards and Guidance, Department of Labor, OSHA
CLICK HERE for the announcement in the FR