Electrical and Arc Flash Safety » Combustible Dust Explosions

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

Three injured following combustible dust flash fire incident at St Louis ethanol plant.

Hugh Hoagland — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:16:41 +0000

Three men were injured in a flash fire incident at a St. Louis ethanol plant. The men were working near a container in a maintenance shed when the container exploded. One worked sustained serious burns to the lower extremities while the others recieved less serious burns to the head and neck. An investigation into the source of the accident is underway.

Click here to read more about the combustible dust incident

One dead and one critically injured in TN powder metallurgy plant following electrical flash fire

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 22:04:46 +0000

The two maintenance workers were severely burned after an electrical short triggered the flash fire with some materials in the plant. Both were transported to the hospital where one died and one was in critical condition. The cause is under investigation by Tennessee OSHA.

Click here to read more about TN flash fire incident

French Worker Killed in Plant Explosion, 11 Hurt: Arc Flash or ComDust?

Hugh Hoagland — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:55:06 +0000

Anytime I read of workers killed in explosions for which no cause is known, I try to read between the lines.

This plant made carbon and graphite or used them. They are both excellent conductors and frequently become airborne to settle in electrical parts. Usually these materials are not combustible themselves but they can lead to arc flashes if the work environment is not kept clean and regular cleaning of electrical equipment is not done.

Think about housekeeping as preventative insurance on arc flashes and explosions.

Read the Washington Post Article.

Removing Combustible Dust Hazards shouldn’t cause fatalities

Hugh Hoagland — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:24:48 +0000

Worker electrocuted rewiring a m0tor to remove combustible dust hazards. Keeping focus on safety at all times is critical.

Click here to read the story.

Probable Combustible Dust Incident at Resin Plant, HA International in Oregon

Hugh Hoagland — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:57:40 +0000

Often ComDust and electrical issues are linked. Usually these are preventable by housekeeping but improper electrical wiring are often a culprit.

See the story in the local news.

Another local story on the same blast.

Imperial Sugar goes flash fire rated (“FR”) uniforms. Hairnet still melting materials though.

Hugh Hoagland — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:47:38 +0000

In this excellent article interviewing Scott Margolin Imperial Sugar tells of their plan to use “FR” uniforms. They chose excellent uniforms by the way, BUT the photo on the cover has the female worker in a melting hairnet. Sad this one still hasn’t got out. The guys in the famous Cudahay Arc Flash Video were wearing melting hairnets and one had VERY severe burns from the hard hat melting onto his head because of the melting hairnet. NFPA 70E rightly requires hairnets to be FR and NON-MELTING. There are several brands doing this with Nomex. Too bad a safety magazine got it wrong in the cover photo.

Click here to read the article in EHS Magazine.

OSHA proposes $90,500 in fines against Fibrelite for fire and explosion hazards at Pawcatuck, Conn., plant

Hugh Hoagland — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:40:42 +0000

Another example of combustible dust and electrical hazards in the same place. OSHA is really cracking down on the electrical hazard.

Click here to read the OSHA Press Release.