Combustible Dusts

OSHA found an animal food producer exposed employees to the risks of explosions, fires and long-term respiratory illnesses from excessive amounts of airborne dust, among two dozen safety and health violations they identified. The findings follow an inspection after the agency received complaints of unsafe working conditions. OSHA inspectors found the company’s created serious combustible…...

Golden Rule #1: Always recognize and understand the hazardous properties of your dust/ powder materials Golden Rule #2: Always identify the equipment and areas of the facility where dust, fire, and explosion hazards exist Golden Rule #3: Always provide and maintain appropriate fire and explosion protection Golden Rule #4: Always Ensure personnel are trained on…...

The plans and procedures required in Sections 2203.5 Housekeeping, 2203.6 Standard Operational Procedures, and 2203.7 Emergency Response Plan (ERP) shall be reviewed annually and updated as process changes require. Initial and annual refresher training shall be provided to employees involved in operating, maintaining, and supervising facilities that handle combustible dust. Initial and annual refresher training shall…...

A written emergency response plan (ERP) shall be developed for preventing, preparing for, and responding to work-related emergencies involving combustible dusts, including but not limited to fire and explosion. The following information shall be developed into the ERP:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in...

Hot work and similar spark-producing operations shall not be conducted in or adjacent to combustible dust-producing areas unless precautions have been taken to provide safety. Hot work shall be permitted only in safe, designated areas in accordance with Chapter 35. Hot work is prohibited on equipment that is operating. Conspicuous signs with the following warning…...

Flexible hose shall be permitted if designed and installed in accordance with the following requirements:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

Dust-producing equipment and dust-handling equipment, including but not limited to vacuums, dust collection systems, dryers, mixers, blenders, separators, conveyors, storage containers, silos, or other similar devices, shall be listed and shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommended standards. 2203.2.1 Signages and markings Signages and markings shall be provided in accordance with Sections 2203.2.1.1…...

A lot work has been done in the past twenty years to raise awareness and understanding of the risks associated with combustible dusts.  Between NFPA and the IFC, we have some excellent resources to design, operate and maintain areas where combustible dusts may be present.  In the 2021 IFC, the “Critical Depth Layer” was re-defined/quantified……...

At 4:00 p.m. on July 4, 2022, an employee was cutting off a motor and base of a dust collection system using an oxygen-acetylene torch at a farm machinery and equipment manufacturing facility. When the employee moved the cutoff motor base, a dust cloud formed and ignited, causing an explosion. The employee sustained second and…...

OSHA has revised its Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program (NEP) based on enforcement history and combustible dust incident reports. In 2018, wood and food products comprised an average of 70 percent of the materials involved in combustible dust fires and explosions. Incident reports indicate that the majority of the industries involved in combustible dust hazards…...

Dust collectors for combustible dust will have a deflagration vent(s).  These vents are like weak-seam welded roofs in that they are large surface area vent covers that relieve the pressure inside the dust collector should there be an explosion inside the collector.  As one can imagine, someone standing in the path of these vent covers…...

The criteria for a dust hazard are typically based on an evaluation of dust accumulations in areas of the facility. The combustible dust accumulation level that would support a fire and/or explosion, if there was an ignition source present, depends on numerous factors.  For some dusts, accumulation limits are specified. For other dusts, accumulation limits…...