Combustible dust explosions have leveled workplaces and killed workers. Although there is still no specific combustible dust standard, OSHA regulates the hazard in other ways.
OSHA included combustible dust in its definition of a hazardous chemical when it revised the hazard communication standard to include the requirements of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS).
Chemicals that are classified as combustible dusts must have safety data sheets (SDSs) and GHS-compliant labels. Employees who are exposed to combustible dust must also be trained in accordance with the hazard communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200).
OSHA can also issue citations for combustible dust hazards using:
- 29 CFR 1910.272 for combustible dusts found in grain-handling facilities.
- 29 CFR 1910.22 (housekeeping) or, where appropriate, 29 CFR 1910.176(c) (housekeeping in storage areas). These citations may be issued in situations where the facility being inspected is not a grain-handling facility, but the lab results indicate that the dust is combustible, and the combustible dust accumulations not contained within dust control systems or other containers, such as storage bins, are extensive enough to pose an explosion or other fire hazard.
- Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Under this section, (General Duty Clause), OSHA may issue citations for fire or explosion hazards.
Other OSHA standards that may be related to combustible dust include:
- 1910 Subpart D, Walking-working surfaces
- 1910.38, Emergency action plans
- 1910.94, Ventilation
- 1910.146, Permit-required confined spaces
- 1910.269, Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution
- 1910 Subpart S, Electrical, including 1910.307, Hazardous (classified) locations
- 1910 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances
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NFPA Standards
In trying to sort through the list of combustible dust standards, a good starting point is the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 654, the Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids.
Simply stated, NFPA 654 is an all-encompassing standard on how to design a safe dust collection system. It is regarded as the guiding dust document and the most general on the topic, and it will lead you to other relevant documents.
Depending on the nature and severity of the hazard, NFPA 654 will guide you to the appropriate standard(s) for explosion venting and/or explosion prevention, as follows:
- NFPA 68—Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting: This document focuses on explosion venting—i.e., on devices and systems that vent combustion gases and pressures resulting from a deflagration within an enclosure, for the purpose of minimizing structural and mechanical damage. The current edition, published in 2007 and updated in 2013, contains much more stringent requirements than past editions, essentially elevating it from a guideline to a standard.
- NFPA 69—Standard on Explosion Prevention Systems: This standard covers explosion protection of dust collectors when venting is not possible. It covers the following methods for prevention of deflagration explosions: control of oxidant concentration, control of combustible concentration, explosion suppression, deflagration pressure containment, and spark- extinguishing systems.
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The general document (NFPA 654) also directs the reader to appropriate standards for specific manufacturing industries. The industry-specific standards most commonly employed are:
- NFPA 61—Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Dust Explosions in Agricultural and Food Processing Facilities
- NFPA 484—Standard for Combustible Metals
- NFPA 664—Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Explosions in Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities
Tomorrow, we’ll feature information about the dust explosion pentagon and what you can do to prevent it from forming and causing an explosion.
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