OSHA Publishes Combustible Dust Hazards Document

OSHA has published a new guidance document to assist in recognizing the potential for dust explosions, identifying appropriate protective measures, and the requirements for disseminating this information on material safety data sheets and labels, according to the safety magazine, EHS Today.

Combustible dusts are fine particles that present an explosion hazard when suspended in air under certain conditions. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board identified 281 combustible dust incidents between 1980 and 2005 that led to the deaths of 119 workers, injured 718, and extensively damaged numerous industrial facilities. In many cases, workers and managers were unaware of the potential for dust explosions, or failed to recognize the dust explosion hazards.

The document, Hazard Communication Guidance for Combustible Dusts, addresses the combustible dust hazards in relation to the Hazard Communication Standard, which is designed to ensure that chemical hazards are evaluated and the information concerning them is transmitted to employers and workers. The full document is at OSHA.gov/Publications/3371combustible-dust.pdf.