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Dust Hazards

Most solid materials that can be ignited can form an explosive dust cloud if the particle size of the solid is small enough. Special attention should be pay to identification of accumulation of dust and powders in plants and to specified safe operating procedures for handling powders and dusts.

Fire From Iron

Apr 3, 2012
Marc G. Sáenz
Although the potential consequences of combustible dust explosions are becoming more widely known, the potential consequences of combustible dust fires are sometimes overlooked. The CSB investigated three incidents involving combustible iron dust at Hoeganaes Corporation. Two people died from burns...

Tutorial on Combustible Dust

Apr 3, 2012
Timothy J. Myers
Recent catastrophic dust explosions, the combustible dust National Emphasis Program (NEP), and OSHA proposed rulemaking, have increased awareness of combustible dust hazards in industry. This presentation provides an overview of combustible dust. The presentation will provide a summary of recent...

Evaluation of Dust Explosion/Fire Hazards During a Process Hazards Analysis [PHA]

Apr 3, 2012
Mayur Patel
Evaluation of Dust Explosion/Fire Hazards during a Process Hazards Analysis [PHA] Mayur Patel DuPont Engineering mayur.patel@ind.dupont.com and S. Dharmavaram DuPont Engineering seshu.dharmavaram@usa.dupont.com Many of the recent dust fire and explosion incidents have shown that PHA teams have...

Ignition of Dust Layers by Mechanical Sparks

Mar 14, 2011
Kees Van Wingerden
Dust explosions represent a considerable safety risk in process industry. Statistical records of dust explosions show that 32.7 % of these explosions are initiated by mechanical sparks or hot surfaces due to mechanical friction [1]. Laboratory investigations however show that direct ignition of...

Methods for Precluding the Existence of a Dust-Explosion Hazard

Mar 14, 2011
Richard Prugh
The "generic" standard for preventing fires and explosions involving combustible dusts is the National Fire Protection Association publication NFPA 654. In this document, fifteen of the requirements are prefaced with the phrase "if an explosion hazard exists", and an additional four requirements...

Secondary Dust Explosions: How to Prevent Them or Mitigate Their Effects?

Mar 14, 2011
Jérôme R. Taveau
Dust explosions are frequent and particularly devastating in the process industries, and secondary dust explosions are the most severe ones. A secondary dust explosion can occur when the blast wave from a primary explosion entrains dust layers present in the plant, creating a large dust-air...

Effect of Physical Properties of Particulates on Fires and Dust Explosions

Mar 14, 2011
Konanur Manjunath
There has been a dramatic approach in the way we are implementing process safety guidelines and standards for combustible. This is particularly true for North America where there have been devastating dust explosions occurring for the last 10 years or so. Following this, OSHA has initiated NEP,...

Imperial Sugar Refinery Combustible Dust Explosion Investigation

Mar 23, 2010
John Vorderbrueggen
On February 7, 2008, at about 7:15 p.m., a series of sugar dust explosions at the Imperial Sugar manufacturing facility in Port Wentworth, Georgia, resulted in 14 worker fatalities. Thirty six workers were treated for serious burns and injuries—some caused permanent, life altering conditions. The...

Property Insurance Company Evaluation of Combustible Dust Hazards

Mar 22, 2010
Henry L. Febo
This paper will discuss some of the key factors that FM Global insurance engineering representatives use in evaluating combustible dust hazards at insured locations. The information is used to develop underwriting information but more importantly, it is the basis for guidance provided for the...

Combustible Dust: A Practical Approach to Identifying and Mitigating Hazards

Mar 22, 2010
Richard C. Griffin
Combustible dust hazards are prevalent in many facilities throughout industry, including the chemical process industries. Lack of awareness and control of these hazards has led to numerous catastrophic accidents. Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP has developed a practical approach to identifying...

Materials as Inherent Ignition Sources for Dust Explosions During Spray Drying

Mar 22, 2010
Vincent Van den Hoogenband
During spray drying, a solution is dispersed through a nozzle in small droplets to evaporate the water by means of hot air. In a large number of these processes, organic materials are processed so three out of four factors for dust explosions to occur are already present. The only thing missing for...

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