OSHA Initiates Rulemaking on Combustible Dust

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration division (OSHA) has announced intentions to develop new regulations for combustible dust hazards. Following standard procedures, the agency will issue advance notices, communicate details, and receive opinions and data related to the issue.

Certain combustible materials and even some generally noncombustible materials can prove to be explosive when high concentrations of finely divided particles meet certain environmental factors. Combustible dust can derive from aluminum, magnesium and other metals, certain textiles, coal, plastics, bio solids, wood, paper and other materials. Explosive hazards exist across many sectors of heavy industry: rubber, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, fossil fuel power generation and others. Related incidents cause injury, death and substantial property damage.

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board recommended that OSHA issue combustible dust standards in 2006, and in March 2008, OSHA reissued its Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program Instruction to focus on facilities in specific industries with the highest frequency of combustible dust incidents. The organization is now undertaking a more in-depth analysis of related rules. More than 130 workers have died and another 780 were injured in combustible dust explosions since 1980. The total includes 14 workers who died and 38 who were injured during an explosion at an Imperial Sugar refinery in Savanna, Georgia. The February 2008 explosion burned high amounts of combustible sugar dust.

"Over the years, combustible dust explosions have caused many deaths and devastating injuries that could have been prevented," Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis said. She promoted the new rulings as a means to "ensure workers receive the protection they need" and "employers have the tools needed to make their workplaces safer." Regulations could address dust collection and filtration systems, ventilation requirements, and inspection for hazardous dust residue.

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