COMBUSTIBLE DUST: What you must know!
COMBUSTIBLE DUST
There are many known materials, which are hazardous and can make big explosions. Among them, the very least but distractive explosive material is combustible dust. Combustible dust is the finest material that can explode when came in contact with fire and air. Any dust can become combustible like sugar, flour, grain, wood, metals, and even nonmetallic or inorganic materials. Cohesive dust, regardless of particle size, shape, or content, is considered flammable by OSHA. May cause fires and deflagrations
EXAMPLES OF COMBUSTIBLE DUST EXPLOSIONS
A wide variety of materials that can be explosible in dust form exist in many industries. Food, grain, tobacco, plastics, wood, paper, pulp, rubber, pesticides, medicines, colors, coal, metals are all examples of these materials. In manufacturing and agricultural settings, flammable dust materials may identify. Also in processing includes additive manufacturing and 3D printing. Dust is created when materials are moved, handled, treated, polished, ground, and shaped. Any workplace or industry that generates dust is at risk of explosion.
EXAMPLES OF COMBUSTIBLE DUST EXPLOSIONS
dust explosions may cause fatalities and injuries of employees, as well as the destruction of a whole building. The examples of dust explosions are: in 2010, three workers killed by a titanium dust explosion in West Virginia. In 2008, fourteen workers lost their lives in a sugar dust explosion in Georgia. There were 146 fatalities, along with another 114 injuries due to a metal powder explosion in Kunshan, China in 2014.
CONDITIONS FOR DUST EXPLOSION
Dust explosions required five necessary elements to make explosions: combustible dust, the dust dispersed in the air at a sufficiently high concentration, oxygen, ignition source, and confined area. However, these combined elements are also known as dust explosion pentagons. It always needs to remember that the finer dust particles can create more destruction and, the dust features a high ratio of surface area to volume, adding to their combustibility. Flammable dust needs a source of ignition, which can be a flame of a gas stove or a spark of a car or cigarettes. A combustible dust explosion is equally harmful as any other explosion because other flammable materials are available at any place as same as dust.
PREVENTION OF DUST EXPLOSION
How to prevent the combustible dust explosion, the basis of this prevention is only thorough hazard assessment according to OSHA. In the prevention studies, the first thing to study is flammable dust control recommendation which includes, implement an explosive dust inspection in the factory or building with testing of dust and its controlling program. Dust prevention also encourages the use of proper dust collection systems and filters. To avoid dust particles settling in the vents, roofs, ceilings, a complete checkup of the ventilation system is required. Always keep the working areas clean, facilitate the cleaning process, and use surfaces that minimize dust growth.
During the inspection, provide access to all the areas including, hidden ones like basements, attics, storerooms, etc., and, from time to time, checks for the dust particles insides and outsides. Make sure to use a vacuum for the cleaning process and, if any source of fire is present near areas, kindly use cleaning methods that do not generate dust clouds.
Prevention of fire is another important task after finding all possible ways of combustible dust existence. Fire safety is necessary for those hazardous conditions and, the first step of preventing required to look for a source of fire in the enclosure. The source of ignition can control by using suitable electrical equipment and wiring methods. Also, control static electricity, including bonding for equipment to the ground, smoking, open flames, sparks, frictions, and mechanical sparks. Use different devices to remove foreign materials capable of igniting combustibles from process materials. Constantly keep in mind to separate the dust from heated surfaces and heating systems. Use an equipment preventive maintenance program.
OSHA GUIDELINES
OSHA also provides the guidelines for the damages and injuries which occurred by a combustible dust explosion. Training of the workers is the main and the most important thing and, a supervisor is responsible to inspects the possible circumstances of having hazards at the workplace. If any injury happened, the first response is to remove the victims from the damaged areas. A fire-specialized suppression system should install with the explosion protection system. Activate the spark detection system and develop emergency plans with the emergency exit routes and finding first aids. To avoid the hazards, organizations it is the foremost responsibility of the employers to save the lives of their employees and the education and training of the workers.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets federal standards for workplace safety and has developed regulations that apply to dust explosions. Additionally, these include the standards of that addressing issues like materials handling and other safety issues, such as emergency exits. Failure to comply with OSHA regulations could carry fines.
Standards set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) publish by scientists and other leading experts in the fire safety field. The organization’s primary list, “Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust,” constitutes the most advanced recommendations to protect workers and facilities that encounter combustible dust.
