Combustible dust

Tiny particles, massive threat: The unseen danger of combustible dust

August 6, 2024

A recent ISHN webinar highlighted the often-overlooked hazard of combustible dust, with expert Mark Hanson detailing the devastating consequences of ignoring this workplace threat.

A comprehensive guide to combustible dust best practices

Learn how to analyze and identify hazards to protect workers

Jon A. Barrett Onell Gonzalez PhD, CIEC, LEED AP OM

March 29, 2024

This article describes potential sources of combustible dust and outlines best inspection practices for OSH professionals, certified industrial hygienists and certified remediators to perform the suspect combustible dust inspection.

NFPA 660: One combustible dust standard to rule them all

Answers to common questions about the upcoming changes

Ali Roth

February 8, 2023

Currently designated as NFPA 660: Standard for Combustible Dusts, the all-encompassing standard will be completed in 2024 and likely released in late 2024/early 2025.

Grand jury indicts Didion Milling Inc., managers on nine counts related to five deaths, serious injuries in 2017 Cambria corn mill explosion

May 18, 2022

A federal grand jury has indicted the operator and six management officials of a Cambria corn mill – where a May 31, 2017, explosion killed five workers and injured 15 others – on nine criminal counts, including two counts related to willful violations of federal workplace safety standards for grain handling.

As 3D printing use increases, so does risk of VOCs, combustible dust

Joshua Lew, MPH, CIH

August 27, 2021

In an age where there are new breakthroughs every day, mitigating hazards can prove difficult when there is little to no research on potential hazards to health, let alone rules and regulations to ensure that organizations are protecting the health and safety of their employees.

Don't take risks with dust hazards

Only qualified persons should manage dust hazards due to explosion risk and liability

Scott Czarnecki, CSP, CHMM

July 15, 2021

Combustible dust hazards are under-recognized in the industry and can pose a significant risk to your employees' safety and the integrity of your facilities.

How to understand MERV ratings and industrial dust collector filtration

Randi Huckaby

July 15, 2021

Industrial dust collectors are proven engineering control systems to maintain indoor air quality and protect the health and safety of your workers. One of the key factors to keeping your dust collector operating efficiently over its lifetime is selecting the right dust collector filters.

Keep your welding environment safe from harmful dust

Jon Ladwig

June 30, 2021

Most welding and cutting operations generate dangerous fumes and particulates. Here are several important factors you should know to better manage metal processing fumes to maintain a safe metalworking environment.

Avoid dust-ups with OSHA over NFPA 652 Compliance

Megan E. Baroni Christopher Y. Eddy Peter Knight

Jonathan H. Schaefer

March 22, 2021

For more than a decade, OSHA has placed an emphasis on combustible dust hazards, which have resulted in numerous deadly incidents over the years. While no OSHA standard directly addresses combustible dust, this has not hindered OSHA enforcement.

Frequently-asked questions about controlling dangerous dusts

Brian Richardson

September 28, 2020

Dust particles become airborne during indoor metalworking processes like welding and plasma cutting. They also become airborne during the manufacturing and processing of food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and other dry products.