MEC&F Expert Engineers : Protecting Workers from Combustible Dust Explosion Hazards

Friday, July 8, 2016

Protecting Workers from Combustible Dust Explosion Hazards


Protecting Workers from Combustible Dust Explosion Hazards

Combustible dusts can fuel a flash fi e or explosion when dispersed in a dust cloud. Workers in many industries who handle combustible solids may be exposed to combustible dust incidents that can cause catastrophic
destruction, injuries and deaths. Employers and workers should take the steps below to control the fuel and prevent tragic consequences.



Control the Fuel (Dust) and Avoid Incidents

  • Capture dust before it escapes into a work area by using properly designed, installed, approved and maintained dust collection systems.
  • Contain dust within equipment, systems or rooms that are built and operated to safely handle combustible dust.
  • Clean work areas, overhead surfaces and concealed spaces frequently and thoroughly using safe housekeeping methods to remove combustible dusts not captured or contained.

Key Responsibilities to Keep Workers Safe
Employers should determine whether dusts present in the workplace are explosible. If so, they must take proper precautions to protect workers against flash fi es and explosions. Resources to help employers can be found at www.osha.gov/dsg/combustibledust.


Workers must be protected from combustible dust flash fi e and explosion hazards.  Supervisors should be notified if proper precautions have not been taken to protect workers from combustible dust hazards.

Examples of Potential Combustible Dust Materials
Agricultural                 Carbonaceous           Plastic
cellulose                       charcoal                      epoxy resin
corn                             coal                           melamine
egg white                     lampblack                   phenolic resin
fertilizer                       lignite                         polyethylene
flour                                                              polypropylene
powdered milk
soy flour                       Metals                        Other
spices                           aluminum                    biosolids
starch                           iron                             dyes
sugar                            magnesium                 pharmaceuticals
tobacco                         titanium                      rubber
wood flour                     zirconium                     soap sulfur

Some Dusts are Not Combustible 

Certain materials in their pure chemical state will not form
combustible dust, including cement,
gypsum, limestone, sand and salt.

Workers’ Rights

 
Workers have the right to:


  • Working conditions that do not pose a risk of serious harm.
  • Receive information and training (in a language and vocabulary the worker understands) about workplace hazards, methods to prevent them, and the OSHA standards that apply to their workplace.
  • Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses.
  • File a complaint asking OSHA to inspect
  • their workplace if they believe there is a serious hazard or that their employer is not following OSHA’s rules. OSHA will keep all identities confidential.
  • Exercise their rights under the law without retaliation, including reporting an injury or raising health and safety concerns with their employer or OSHA. If a worker has been retaliated against for using their rights, they must file a complaint with OSHA as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days.
For more information, see OSHA’s Workers page.
 

How to Contact OSHA
For questions or to get information or advice, to report an emergency, fatality, inpatient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye, or to fi e a confidential complaint, contact your nearest OSHA office, visit www.osha.gov or call OSHA at 1-800-321-OSHA (6742), TTY 1-877-889-5627.