As part of a Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program (NEP), OSHA conducted focused inspections of facilities that generate or handle combustible dusts. Some of these facilities were not even aware that they were handling combustible dusts and may not have been familiar with the necessary safeguards to safely handle these materials. This paper will review the background for this NEP, some of the common findings, and some suggestions on how to safely deal with combustible dusts and minimize the likelihood of a citation should OSHA visit your facility.
In November 2006, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) issued an Investigation Report on combustible dusts. The CSB identified 281 combustible dust incidents between 1980 and 2005 that killed 119 workers and injured 718, and extensively damaged industrial facilities. This report concluded that combustible dust explosions are a serious hazard in American industry and that existing efforts inadequately address this hazard.
In response to this CSB report, OSHA issued a National Emphasis Program for Combustible Dusts in late 2007. However, after the catastrophic incident at the Imperial Sugar Refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia, the directive was reissued in March 2008. OSHA wanted to intensify its focus on the combustible dust hazards as a result of the Imperial Sugar explosion. This NEP applies to all facilities covered by OSHA which generate or handle combustible dusts.
To download our resources, you must become a registered site user. After you register, you will receive an email with a login username and password.
Stay Informed With Our Technical Resources
Register to receive full access to publications on chemical reactivity, combustible dust hazards, and industry safety regulations authored by the expert leadership at ioKinetic.