Electrical and Arc Flash Safety » Combustible Dust Explosions

$67.5k Proposed Penalties to Bartlett Grain of KS due to 6 Deaths & 2 Injuries in Combustible Dust Explosion

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:47:55 +0000

Bartlett Grain of Atchison, KS, was cited by OSHA for willful and serious safety violations in response to the October 2011 grain elevator explosion tragedy.

The willful violations include allowing grain dust – which is nine times as explosive as coal dust – to accumulate, using compressed air to remove dust without first shutting down ignition sources, jogging (repeatedly starting and stopping) inside bucket elevators to free legs choked by grain, and using electrical equipment inappropriate for the working environment.

The serious violations involve a lack of proper preventive maintenance, certification and lubrication of grain handling equipment; inadequate emergency action plan training for employees and contractors; a lack of employee and contractor training on job hazards; and a housekeeping program that was deficient because it did not prevent grain dust accumulations.

Click here to read the OSHA News Release dated 4/12/12.

IL Mfg Co Fined $231k after Dust Collector Explosion

Hugh Hoagland — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:26:24 +0000

OSHA has proposed $231k in penalties for Gilster-Mary Lee Corp of Steeleville, IL, where 2 maintenance employees were seriously burned following an explosion within a dust collector while conducting welding operations. The men were repairing a hole in the side of a metal trough containing a screw conveyor that was leaking granulated sugar within several feet of an operational dust collector. The dust collector exploded due to a spark from the welding operations.

Click here to read the OSHA News Release dated 4/10/12.

OSHA Proposes $191.7k Fines for AL Farmers Coop

Hugh Hoagland — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:26:00 +0000

Alabama Farmers Cooperative was cited for safety and health violations for exposing workers at its Decatur facility to combustible dust and other hazards. Included in the violations was failure to reduce the accumulation of, and use approved electrical equipment in the presence of, combustible dust. Employees were exposed to nuisance dust 1.6 times higher than the permissible exposure limit.

Click here to read the OSHA News Release dated 4/10/12.

Combustible Dust Hits the AirWaves in Manufacturing.net Magazine

Hugh Hoagland — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:17:13 +0000

This is the best technical article I have seen on combustible dust issues. The article lays out the standards which can be used in assessment and shows a breadth of knowledge usually lacking. It does not list clothing as a part of the solution (which I believe it should be) but he has a firm grasp on reducing the risk and extent of the hazard.

Click here to an excellent technical article on Combustible Dust in the food industry.

OSHA Fines AGrowStar $74k for Combustible Dust & Electrical Hazards

Hugh Hoagland — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:57:43 +0000

AGrowStar, LLC, of Fort Valley, GA, was cited by OSHA for 20 serious and 2 other-than-serious violations, with proposed penalties of $74k. Included was failure to develop and implement lockout/tagout procedures for energy sources, annual training for employees exposed to fire or explosion hazards, securing a permit prior to entering a confined space to perform maintenance, and properly installing and repairing electrical equipment.

Click here to read the OSHA News Release dated 2/29/12.

Two Fatalities & Multiple Injuries at Babine Sawmill Plant Explosion in BC

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:13:48 +0000

Babine Forest Products’ sawmill exploded in a fireball, leveling the plant on the evening of January 20th. The roof lifted off of the football field-sized building, then came down, crushing the sawmill. Clothing was partially burned off, hard hats melted onto heads, workers had burns to backs, arms, and legs, and others were blown out of the building. Most likely an electrical malfunction in the 150hp motor caused a 36-year-old electrical switch to spark, igniting a small amount of sawdust. Mill employees indicated they heard a loud explosion and saw flames shooting out of the electrical room. Subsequent examination of the switch determined there was sawdust accumulation in and on the equipment, noting the sawdust appeared to be unusually dry.

Click here to read the article from 1/31.

Click here to read the article from 2/1 regarding previous combustible dust issues.

OSHA Fines Milk Co. in WI for Willful Safety Violation

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:25:06 +0000

OSHA proposed $72k fine to Milk Specialties Co. of Fond du Lac, WI, for failing to take appropriate precautions to protect workers from combustible dust explosions and fires.

Click here to read the OSHA News Release dated 2/22/12.

Flash Fire at Polymer Plant: Combustible Dust or Arc Flash

Hugh Hoagland — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:18:00 +0000

Not enough information in this article but with previous citations on electrical guarding, combustible dust and carbon black, it could be combustible dust explosion or arc flash or both. Sad thing is flame resistant clothing would have likely prevented most of the burns in either case. Clothing which meets NFPA 2112 or ASTM F1506 will usually protect from most of the body burns in these incidents.

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/dec/17/polymer-employee-dies-from-injuries-after/

Chemcial Safety Board Releases Study of Combustible Dust Incidents

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:23:45 +0000

CSB just released the Powerpoint of their study on Combustible Dust.

CSB Combustible Dust Incident Study

Developer of Milk Protein and Whey-Based Products Defies Fed-OSHA

Hugh Hoagland — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:31:38 +0000

Milk Specialties Co. (MSC) has refused to provide OSHA access to an internal report of an alleged combustible dust explosion that occurred in August,2011. OSHA had a subpoena issued to help determine it employees were exposed to dust hazards. The company contends that providing the report would violate attorney-client privilege

Click here to read more about Dust Probe