Combustible Dusts

OSHA has been piece-mealing its own standards along with NFPA standards to formulate a Combustible Dusts National Emphasis Program (NEP) since the 2008 Port Wentworth, GeorgiaSugar Refinery explosion.   There is always some confusion about OSHA using consensus standards outside of their own safety standards and when it comes to Com Dust enforcement, they rely heavily…...

Ever wonder what an OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officer (CSHO) looks for to establish that a combustible dust hazard may be present?  Here are the top 10 indicators they look for when wondering if the business has a Combustible Dust…… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a...

During the pandemic, OSHA’s Combustible Dust team was updating OSHA’s Technical Manual with a new chapter on Combustible Dust.  If you are looking to learn more about the hazards of Com Dusts, this would be a great starting point for your reading.  And if your business manages Com Dusts, this is a MUST READ.  The…...

NFPA updated NFPA 499: Recommended Practice for the Classification of Combustible Dusts and of Hazardous (Classified) Locations for Electrical Installations in Chemical Process Areas (2021 edition) with a revised definition of “combustible flyings”…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

For many of us, it will be coming!  Most states in the USA adopt the International Fire Code (IFC) as their Fire Code and HAZMAT Code; although most adopt a “revised” version of the IFC and most states run anywhere from 5-15 years behind the actual IFC.  For example, my home state of OH just…...

OSHA has proposed $1,837,861 in fines against a corn milling facility following a May 31, 2017, explosion that killed five workers and injured 12 others, including a 21-year-old employee who suffered a double leg amputation after being crushed by a railcar. OSHA found that the explosion likely resulted from failures to correct the leakage and…...

Scenario: Some equipment manufacturers believe that all equipment used in combustible dust atmospheres, including non-electrically powered vacuum cleaners, requires NRTL listing/approval. Question: Could OSHA clarify the NRTL listing/approval requirements for non-electrical vacuum cleaners used in combustible dust atmospheres?… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in...

Safety Order 01 Item 001 Type of Violation: Serious; $4,000 IC 22-8-1.1 Section 2: The employer did not establish and maintain conditions of work which were reasonably safe and healthful for employees, and free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were…...

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has initiated rulemaking to develop a combustible dust standard for general industry. OSHA will use information gathered, including from an upcoming SBREFA panel, to develop a comprehensive standard that addresses combustible dust hazards.  CLICK HERE for the May 2016 OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) posting…. Membership Required...