Combustible Dust Becomes National Target Wood Dust Target: OSHA
targets combustible wood dust after a refinery accident; learn
what you need to do to mitigate your exposure to this risk. By
Elizabeth Grey Morrison Date Posted: 8/1/2008 Combustible dust,
a hazard that has historically received little attention from
employers and government agencies alike, is a hidden danger that
every company operating a saw should address. Sawdust often goes
unnoticed in all manners of nooks and crannies although it poses
a major hazard if a secondary explosion occurs. A dusty room by
itself cannot set off an explosion. However, Daniel Horowitz,
director of public affairs at the U.S. Chemical Safety Board
(CSB), said that if enough dust accumulates in an area, an
initial explosion can trigger a secondary dust explosion that
can have catastrophic consequences. According to the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), dust has
accumulated in many factories and triggered secondary explosions
that have killed and inj