Dust explosions are a serious problem for process businesses that deal with materials that release combustible dust. These can result in fatalities, serious injuries, and catastrophic facility damage, which would result in substantial financial loss. To avoid, reduce, and regulate explosive dust, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the National Fire Protection Association collaborated to develop a set of safety guidelines and regulations. To guide you, OSHA has provided several dust suppression and preventive measures for different industries. In this article, we’ll look at ways to proactively keep workers and facilities safe against combustible dust:
How Can You Tell Whether Dust Is Flammable?
According to OSHA, dust is flammable if the material will burn and has a significant particle size of 420 microns or smaller to produce a fire or deflagration risk. Combustible dust is frequently described as finely ground, smaller-sized materials. These particles go through a certain situation that makes it possible for dust to explode. Aside from this, larger materials like wood and metal can also explode if they rub against each other, causing friction and the formation of smaller particles that can convert into combustible dust. But with the right dust suppression system, you can keep your worksite safe for your employees.
Tips you can use to keep your employees and worksite safe
Identify hazardous dust generated in your worksite
You should begin by making a list of all of the potential combustible elements that are present in your facility. Some may not initially be evident thus it’s best to undertake regular inspections to identify them. This will give you an idea of how to better address each recognized dangerous dust.
Use suitable dust collection systems
The importance of good housekeeping in lowering the likelihood of accidents in the workplace cannot be overemphasized. Dust can be dangerous, so the best way to get rid of it is with a vacuum cleaner. Just make sure the vacuum you use is secure and suitable for industrial use.
Set up effective control measures
To prevent dust risks, fires, and explosions, businesses must also implement a thorough and all-encompassing safety strategy. This provides workers with a comprehensive manual outlining what actions to take and how to take them. It also helps make sure that everyone is on the same page and knows what needs to be done.
Provide regular employee training
In relation to the last point, companies should give workers regular training and education about dangerous dust. This training can include spotting potentially dangerous dust, handling safety equipment, or properly addressing and controlling dust fires or explosions.
Evaluate the dangers of tight spaces
Since dust explosions create thick clouds of dust that make it hard to breathe, it’s important to check any places or rooms that are too small to let the dust move freely. This would make it easier to spot potential problems and deal with them as needed.
Conduct regular checks
For these efforts to be successful, it’s not enough to implement company-wide dust control measures; it’s also important to do safety testing and check-ins to make sure they’re being used consistently. This also aids in identifying opportunities for improvement and effectively resolving known problems. Firms may find it hard to take all of these steps and keep track of how they are done, but there are tools that can help them.
Combustible explosions are serious safety incidents that can have devastating consequences. 70% of the dust found in different industries is combustible, making it important to implement effective prevention, protection, and control measures.
