Combustible Dust Cleaning Services

In February 1999, an explosion in a foundry in Massachusetts killed three and injured nine. Almost four years later in January 2003, an explosion in a North Carolina pharmaceutical plant killed six and injured 38. A month later, seven are killed in an explosion in a Kentucky acoustics insulation manufacturing plant and 37 more are injured; and in February 2008, an explosion at a Georgia sugar refinery left 14 dead, and 38 injured.

What do all of these explosions have in common? Combustible dust fueled the massive explosions. Since 1980 there have been at least 350 such explosions in the United States, killing 133 people and injuring hundreds more. How much dust does it take to cause one of these explosions? According to NFPA 654, “As little as 1/32 of an inch of organic dust over 5 percent of a room’s surface area presents a significant explosion hazard.” That’s as thin as a paperclip.

These staggering figures have understandably brought heightened attention to the need to mitigate dust accumulation that may lead to explosions. OSHA convened a meeting in Washington, DC in December of 2009 to seek input on the approach for the agency’s approach to develop Federal standards for combustible dust. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has numerous standards in place addressing combustible dust:

• NFPA 654, Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids
• NFPA 664, Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities
• NFPA 61, Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Agricultural and Food Processing Facilities
• NFPA 484, Standard for Combustible Metals
• NFPA 655, Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions

Elements of a Combustible Dust Explosion (The Fire and Explosion Pentagon)

What causes combustible dust explosions? How is a combustible dust explosion ignited? The industry has developed a “Fire and Explosion Pentagon” to illustrate how the five factors involved in a combustible dust explosion interact.

Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Elements of a Fire:

• 1. Combustible Dust (fuel);
• 2. Ignition Source (heat);
• 3. Oxygen in the air (oxidizer);

Additional elements needed for a Combustible Dust Explosion:

• 4. Dispersion of particles in sufficient quantity and concentration
• 5. Confinement of a dust cloud

Basically any combustible material and some considered non-combustible (your fuel) in the right concentration suspended in the air could lead to an explosion with potentially deadly consequences.

What Type of Facilities / Dust are most susceptible for Combustible Dust Explosions?

There are several materials that can produce combustible dust; they include wood, plastics, coal, sugar, paper, soap, dried blood, certain textiles, and metals (such as aluminum and magnesium). With such a wide array of materials that may need combustible dust remediation there in turn are several industries that have such combustible dust materials in their facilities. Some of the industries include; pharmaceuticals, tobacco, fossil fuel generation plants, coal, pesticides, furniture, wood, paper, grain, food (e.g. sugar, candy, flour, feed, etc.), dyes, metals (e.g. iron, aluminum, zinc, chromium, and magnesium), chemical, plastics, durable goods, and rubber.

In 2007 OSHA put in place its Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program (NEP) to inspect facilities that produce combustible dust and pose the potential threat of a dust explosion. NEP focused on 64 industries (SICS / NAICS) including many of the aforementioned industries. The NEP inspections found an average of 6.5 Federal Violations per facility compared to other facilities (non-combustible dust handling facilities). Some of the common findings were improper house keeping of the combustible dust and the use of compressed air by the facility’s staff to clean the combustible dust which could lead to a dust cloud and result in an explosion if an ignition source is present.

For the complete NEP study in PDF: http://www.osha.gov/dep/combustibledust/NEP-status-report.pdf

How can Hughes Environmental solve your Combustible Dust Remediation Needs?

Heightened OSHA Standards, potential new state laws, and most importantly risk to your employees’ safety requires contracting with a company experienced in combustible dust cleaning and remediation. Hughes Environmental has performed combustible dust remediation projects in a wide array of facilities throughout the United States with differing types of combustible dust. Projects that have included cleaning only the high surfaces, such as the rafters, trusses, and ceiling deck, to projects where our combustible dust remediation team has cleaned all surfaces in the building – ceiling, walls, catwalks, equipment, floors, etc. In addition, Hughes Environmental provides our clients with the following mandatory needs for any contractor performing combustible dust remediation.

• Hughes Environmental employs the use of Explosion Proof and/or Intrinsically Safe Vacuums on our combustible dust remediation projects. When selecting a contractor always make this a requirement to ensure that the contactor does not utilize a vacuum that could emit a spark during the cleaning process.

• Hughes Environmental’s technicians have all been through OSHA’s 30 hour and/or 10 hour safety training. When performing combustible dust remediation it is important to have a contractor familiar with OSHA’s fall-protection for working off high-reach equipment, electrical safety, hazmat communication, and all other safety procedures.

The power of a combustible dust explosion can lead to the death and injury of employees and destroy a building. Contact Hughes Environmental to contract with an experienced contractor for your combustible dust remediation needs.