Exploring the Congressional H.R.691 - Worker Protection Against Combustible Dust Explosions and Fires Act of 2013

The H.R.691 - Worker Protection Against Combustible Dust Explosions and Fires Act of 2013 was referred to the subcommittee on Workforce Protections in Congress on 4-23-2013.  While the important urgency of worker safety regarding combustible dust is growing everyday, Congressional members have not brought the bill H.R.691 to a roll call.  Mr. George Miller of California  Mr. Barrow of Georgia introduced the bill and have faced lobbying groups and other obstacles slowing the bills chances of passage.  

The bill will require the Secretary of Labor to issue an interim occupational safety and health standard regarding worker exposure to combustible dust, and for other purposes.  After extended research Congress found that an emergency exists concerning worker exposure to combustible dust explosions and fires, and there is a significant risk of death or severe injury to workers employed at facilities where combustible dusts are present.

   The CSB recommended that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issue a standard designed to prevent combustible dust fires and explosions in general industry, based on current National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) dust explosion standards.  The recommendation was released in November.
             
After 3 catastrophic dust explosions that killed 14 workers in 2003, the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) issued a report in November 2006.  The report identified 281 combustible dust incidents between 1980 and 2005 that killed 119 workers and injured 718. ``Combustible dust explosions are a serious hazard in American industry'' according to The CSB.  A quarter of the explosions occurred at food industry facilities, including sugar plants.

To read the full: H.R.691 - Worker Protection Against Combustible Dust Explosions and Fires Act of 2013 bill.

To find out more about combustible dust safety: Is Your Factory Safe From A Dust Collector Explosion?

Article: 10 Ways A Dust Collection System Can Contribute To Your Plant’s Sustainability

A dust collector is designed to clean a factory of dust and fumes, thus making it fundamentally green.  By designing a dust collection system properly you can contribute to sustainability in many additional ways. An article appearing in Green Manufacturer magazine titled "10 Ways a dust collection system can contribute to your plant’s sustainability" written by air pollution control expert John Dauber, gives an easy overview in helping increase and maintain sustainability.

Make sure that the dust collector is compliant with the new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) Rule 6x regarding weld fumes and other airborne contaminants.   You can request a written guarantee from the equipment manager stating the dust collector meets the standards.  Size the collector properly for the application and area.  An undersized dust collector can result in high pressure drop, frequent filter changes, high energy usage, and a host of larger maintenance issues.

If you are being accountable for a  high standard of sustainability shouldn't you require your dust collector supplier to do the same.  You can request a sustainability report or other documentation as evidence of its green manufacturing initiatives.   The use of a VFD variable-frequency drive controls fan speed effectively and efficiently.

To read the full article and learn additional steps to consider for a truly sustainable dust collection system please visit Green Manufacturer Magazine.
You may also find more information regarding the EPA Standards here.

Video - Inferno: Dust Explosion at Imperial Sugar

This month is the four year anniversary of the deadly combustible dust explosion at Imperial Sugar Refinery in Georgia. We wanted to depart from our dust collection series this week to remember the 14 employees that were fatally burned. This explosion was preventable and sadly there have been many more deadly combustible dust explosions elsewhere since.

This video is part of a safety video series put out by the CSB (U.S. Chemical and Safety Board). The video report contains footage, animations, and interviews surrounding that investigation and details of how the explosions happened.

OSHA Bulletin - Combustible Dust in Industry: Preventing and Mitigating the Effects of Fire and Explosions

Recently the US Chemical Safety Board has called on the Occupational Health and Safety Administration to develop and publish a combustible dust standard that includes coverage for metal dusts by the end of 2012. As of today no such standard exists. OSHA Bulletin labeled "Combustible Dust in Industry: Preventing and Mitigating the Effects of Fire and Explosions" is not a standard or regulation. The purpose of the bulletin is to highlight the hazards associated with combustible dust. Work practices and guidelines that reduce the potential for a combustible dust explosion, or that reduce the danger to employees if such an explosion occurs, and training to protect employees from such hazards.

The bulletin covers accidents that occurred, elements needed for a combustible dust explosion, how to access for combustible dust, dust control, and education of management and employees. It's important to know what OSHA has in place currently and hopefully this will help prevent combustable dust incidents until the standards are released.

You can view the CSB video titled, Combustible Dust: An Insidious Hazard, at http://www.farrapc.com/comply/.

In The News: Chemical Safety Board Releases Video on Combustible Dust

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB), an independent federal agency, has released a new safety video entitled, "Combustible Dust: An Insidious Hazard." It features outstanding animations that recreate the events and conditions leading to three major industrial dust accidents involving combustible dust. You can watch the YouTube video here.

The issue of combustible dust must be addressed when considering the installation of an industrial dust collector. Please watch this video to learn of surprising dangers that you probably don't realize exist. For further reading on all aspects of combustible dust, be sure to visit http://dustexplosions.blogspot.com/. This blog site offers extensive and resources on the subject. Always feel free to contact us here at Farr to answer your questions regarding your particular application.