OSHA compliance officers have identified 3,662 violations where employees may be exposed to potential combustible dust hazards on the job. This report comes after the agency conducted 813 inspections at companies during the last 16 months. These visits are part of OSHA's ongoing National Emphasis Program (NEP) that it says is designed to reduce workers' exposure to combustible dust hazards.
OSHA also sent out a letter to over 30,000 facilities last year to bring attention to this issue. Did you receive one? If so, they have identified your company as being in an industry that faces this deadly hazard. If not, make sure you are not putting yourself, your business and your employees at risk anyway. OSHA wants to help and offers a free, confidential on-site consultation through a program designed for small companies (250 or less employees). There are some helpful insights and links regarding combustible dust (ComDust) Enforcement/Inspections here.
UPDATE (6/22/09 1:10pm):
Case in point: Serious citations issued to whey processing plant in Wisconsin. View the OSHA Inspection Detail.
