OSHA and NFPA codes

OSHA Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program (NEP)

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, has issued a directive (CPL 03-00-006) effective 10/18/07 initiating a Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program (NEP). This program will require OSHA offices to begin inspections of sites that handle combustible dusts specifically targeting dust explosion hazards.

Previously the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) had found that ".combustible dust explosions are a serious hazard in American industry, and . existing efforts inadequately address this hazard" (ref: "Investigation Report Combustible Dust Hazard study" U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, Report N0. 2006-H-1, November 2006) The US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) study examined magnitude of the dust explosion hazard and found that 281 combustible dust incidents were reported in the 25 year period ending in 2005. These incidents were responsible for 119 fatalities, 718 injuries and millions of dollars in lost facilities and productivity.

You are a target of the OSHA National Emphasis Program (NEP) if:

• You are covered by OSHA
• You handle/process combustible dusts and powders including (but not limited to):
• Metal dust such as aluminum and magnesium
• Wood dust
• Coal and other carbon dust
• Plastic dust and additives
• Biosolids
• Other organic dusts such as sugar, paper, soap and dried blood
• Certain textile materials

OSHA is creating an all inclusive listing of facilities that handle combustible dusts Many types of industrial activities will be listed including: chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, agriculture, forest and furniture products, metal processing, tire and rubber manufacturing, coal dust and recycling operations.

When inspecting a site as part of the NEP, OSHA inspectors will focus on using specific guideline documents from the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA (NFPA 68, 69, 85, 484, 499, 654, and 664). Your knowledge and good faith application of these standards will be critically important to the NEP inspection.

OSHA Combustible Dusts NEP Inspection and Citation Procedures

The procedures include:

• Assessment of the combustible dust threat to employees
• Are the dust and management practices hazardous?
• What is the site history of fires involving dust?
• Does the MSDS indicate a dust explosion hazard?
• Are accumulations hazardous?
• Collection of samples of combustible dusts for laboratory analysis
• From high places
• From floors and equipment surfaces
• From within ductwork
• Audit of dust management practices and equipment including dust collectors, ductwork, and other dust containers.
• Audit of room safeguards
• Audit of ignition source management
• Citation of facilities based on the above and test results using one or more of the following OSHA standards:
• General Duty Clause Section 5(a)(1) Provide a site free of recognized explosion hazards.
• If grain facility: 29 CFR 1910.272 grain handling standard
• Ventilation standard 1910.94 covering abrasive blasting, grinding, polishing and buffing operations
• Housekeeping if not a grain facility, 29 CFR 1910.22 or 1910.176 for storage areas
• If coal handling: 29 CFR 1910.269(v)(11)(vii)
• Personal protective equipment standard 29 CFR 1910.132(a) if personnel could be exposed to a fireball hazard
• PSM violations under 29 CFR 1910.119
• Electrical area classification violations for Class II (dust) or Class III (flock) areas 29 CFR 1910.307 or 1910.399
• Other standards as listed in the NEP document

OSHA - Occupational Safety & Health Administration

OSHA's mission is to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. Since the agency was created in 1971, occupational deaths have been cut by 62% and injuries have declined by 42%.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to promote the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health.

OSHA Fact Sheet
Hazard Alert: Combustible Dust Explosions

OSHA Poster
Combustible Dusts

OSHA Policies & procedure
Policies and procedure for inspecting workplaces that create or handle combustible dusts

NFPA - National Fire Protection Association

The mission of the international nonprofit NFPA, established in 1896, is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.

The world's leading advocate of fire prevention and an authoritative source on public safety, NFPA develops, publishes, and disseminates more than 300 consensus codes and standards intended to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other risks.

The NFPA codes are copyrighted material. You can become a member, purchase a copy of the code or view it for free from their website (note: you will not be able to copy, save or print)

To view the codes free on the NFPA website click or go to the addresses listed below. NOTE: You be asked to provide your profile.

NFPA 654:
Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids, 2006 Edition
http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/AboutTheCodes.asp?DocNum=654

NFPA 664:
Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities, 2007 Edition
http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/AboutTheCodes.asp?DocNum=664

NFPA 484:
Standard for Combustible Metals, 2009 Edition
http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/AboutTheCodes.asp?DocNum=484

NFPA 61:
Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Dust Explosions in Agricultural and Food Processing Facilities, 2008 Edition
http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/AboutTheCodes.asp?DocNum=61

NFPA 69:
Standard on Explosion Prevention Systems, 2008 Edition
http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/AboutTheCodes.asp?DocNum=69

NFPA 68:
Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting, 2007 Edition
http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/AboutTheCodes.asp?DocNum=68

NFPA Articles

Powder & Bulk Engineering ran a two-part series on how to design a dust collection system's dust collector, ductwork, and exhaust fan to meet the intent of the new NFPA requirements. This article provides practical advice and is written in easy-to-understand language.

Click here to read the article.