A matter of simple housekeeping can save a company — or a life
by David Welch
Wood dust can be a highly explosive substance. That may not be news to many, but it is important enough for the message to be repeated. Wood dust clouds left unchecked can explode and destroy your facility. Even worse, a dust explosion and fire can kill.
A recent event led me to want to reiterate that obvious fact. On March 29th of this year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined a prominent manufacturer of oriented strandboard in Olathe, Colorado, $95,000 for “willful and serious” safety violations, which resulted in a wood dust explosion that left one worker dead.
The fine, which is of secondary importance here, was issued after an inspection of the facility following the blast and ensuing fire. The area director for OSHA said the company was aware of the fire and explosion hazards associated with wood dust and process residue, yet failed to implement an adequate program to address these hazards.
Are you aware of any potential problems due to a build up of wood dust? Never underestimate the danger that lurks in just a thin layer of dust that is barely visible to the human eye. That thin layer can be all it takes to trigger an explosion.
There are some precautions you may take to reduce your risk. The experts say that the best way to avoid a dust explosion is with good housekeeping. It is as simple as it sounds — just make sure the dust doesn’t build up. Make sure that on a daily basis someone in the shop is assigned the role of using a push broom or a light vacuum cleaner to remove accumulations of dust.
A second measure of prevention is to prevent the suspension of dust. Dust can be dispersed into the air of a plant in a variety of ways, but the most common way is through vibrating equipment and leaking hoses. Again, it seems simple enough — just be sure to inspect and perform regular maintenance on your equipment and hoses. It is important to allow dust to move instead of remain in a tightly confined cloud. Adequate ventilation can help minimize pressure.
It is important to maintain strict control of possible ignition sources such as smoking, open flames, hot gases, mechanical sparks and static electricity. Remember, it just takes one spark to set it all off.
There are a few investments to be made that also can reduce your risk of fire. A solid sprinkler system, a reliable dust collection system, and a spark detection/extinguishing system are all safeguards against possible tragedy.
Finally, educate your employees about the hazards of combustible dust and the precautions that pertain to their job responsibilities.
To be absolutely certain that you are not in violation of any OSHA regulations, you can invite your regional OSHA director to your plant for a pseudo-inspection. I have spoken with one plant manager who believes that to be good business. The invited observer can let you know where your violations are, which gives you time to address any problem areas. It also tells OSHA that you are a concerned and responsible member of the business community.
David Welch
Phone: 800-633-5953
Fax: 205-391-2081
e-mail: dwelch@randallpub.com
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