COMBUSTIBLE DUST: INSIDUOUS HAZARD
Written By
Ir. Tan Yoke Lee, MIEM, MiFIRE-E
Reference: USCSB video
COMBUSTIBLE DUST: INSIDUOUS HAZARD
The hazard of combustible dust are always overlooked as compared to combustible gas and liquid.
Dust in very fine particles may pose danger that the parent materials do not pose normally.
Statistic of previous past incidents are
1. Coal dust explosion in coal power plant, Ford river, Michigan in 1999
2. Resin dust explosion in Jahn Foundary in 1999
3. Rubber dust explosion in Rouse Polymeric in 2002
4. Polyethene dust explosion at Pharmaceutical Plant in Kinston 2003
5. Sugar dust explosion in Imperial Sugar, Georgia 2008
6. Iron dust explosion in Hoeganaes Powdered Metal Plant, Tennenssee, January 2011
7. Potato starch powder explosion in Stars Eng, Singapore, Feb 2021
Dust particles exist in almost any industries and thus process hazard analysis must be conducted very thoroughly.
1. Coal powered power plants
2. Food industries such as flour, sugar, wheat, any type of fine grains that have high calorific values
3. Metal industries
4. Factories dealing with fine polymeric resins, rubber resins.
5. Paint and coating workshops with storage of paint resins in powder forms
6. Wood products with fine saw powders
COMBUSTIBLE DUST: INSIDUOUS HAZARD
The conditions required for dust explosions to happen are the presence of heat, oxygen, fuel, confinement and
dispersion. Most injuries are the result of secondary dust explosions triggered by the primary dust explosion.
COMBUSTIBLE DUST: INSIDUOUS HAZARD
Recommendation:1. Train OSHA officers who are able to recognise the hazard created by dust and to identify the potential source
of dust production/ accumulation/ migration.
2. Design facilities that prevent the accumulation and migration of dust without relying solely on house keeping.
Good ventilation system is required.
3. Inform and train workers on the danger of dust explosion and how it could happen in their plant and what
housekeeping and activities to carry out to mitigate the risk.
4. Perform rigorous housekeeping and inspection. Housekeeping method must be in line with the requirement of
not spreading the dust to other parts of the plants. Air blowers should be avoided if possible.
5. Material safety data sheets must be available for all products used especially in form of fine powder.
6. Design system such that there would be no presence of any ignition source in the presence of dust. More
thoughts to be given on transport of dust powders in the factory. Conveyor belts that can jerk can dislodge
dust, or if they get jammed may cause overheating of motor and bearing, thus creating sparks.