Print this pageCombustible Dust Hazards- Awareness
Jeffrey R. Sotek, PE, CSP, CIH
Course Outline
In this three hour course students will learn about combustible dust and the hazards its accumulation can cause in the workplace. The information is provided in a Microsoft Powerpoint presentation handout, OSHA documents, and a Chemical Safety Board video and will help further an understanding of OSHA's position on combustible dust.
This course includes
a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding
of the course materials.
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of this course, the student will:
- Be familiar with OSHA’s Safety and Health Information Bulletin on Combustible Dust;
- Be familiar with OSHA’s National Emphasis Program on Combustible Dust;
- Learn about common combustible dust hazards;
- Learn about recent combustible dust accidents;
- Understand the elements of a dust explosion;
- Be familiar with basic facility dust hazard assessment methods;
- Learn about dust testing methods;
- Be provided with an introduction to dust control;
- Be provided an introduction to ignition control;
- Be provided an introduction to damage control; and
- Be familiar with other reference materials from the National Fire Protection Association.
Intended Audience
This course is intended for environmental engineers, consulting engineers, and EHS professionals.
Benefit to Attendees
This course will help attendees assist owners and operators of operations that generate combustible dust with knowledge of dust explosion criteria, hazards, and control methods.
Course Introduction
A 2006 Chemical Safety and Hazard Abate-ment Board (CBS) Study indicated that 281 dust fires and explosions occurred between 1980 and 2005 from combustible dust incidents. These incidents reportedly claimed 119 lives and injured 718 people, as well as occurred in 44 states in many different industries and involved a variety of different materials. In 2008, following a major explosion at a Imperial Sugar refinery, OSHA has implemented a National Emphasis Program that contains policies and procedures for inspecting workplaces that create or handle combustible dusts. Licensed professional engineers must be aware of combustible dust hazards and control methodologies to assist clientele who potential generate or process dusts include, but are not limited to metal dust such as aluminum and magnesium, wood dust, coal and other carbon dusts, plastic dust and additives, etc., as well as make clientele aware of OSHA’s National Emphasis Program.
Course Content
This course content with provide the attendee with opportunity to learn about combustible dust tragedies, OSHA’s guidances on combustible dust hazards and prevention, and control methodologies. In this lesson, you will be directed to:
This technical document is in the public domain and may be downloaded or printed free of charge.
Imperial Sugar Investigations Detail Video (http://www.chemsafety.gov/investigations/detail.aspx?SID=6, 9.39 minutes)
Please
click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document
for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first
save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save
Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Course Summary
Combustible dust can be generated from a variety of processes and many industry types. Thus, the understanding of how a combustible dust explosion happens, common combustible dust hazards, and control methodologies, are equally important to keep employees safe and minimize property damage. Through this online course, licensed professionals and EHS professionals can learn how to assist employers with assessing and controlling combustible dust hazards and understanding OSHA’s stance on its hazards, as well as, keep themselves and other employees safe from combustible dust hazards.
Related Links
For additional information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:
OSHA, http://www.osha.gov/dsg/combustibledust/index.html
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
