Phoenix Industrial Dust Explosion Sends Workers to the Hospital

Last month, two workers were rushed to a Phoenix hospital after suffering second and third degree burns following a combustible dust fire at their place of employment.  The explosion occurred while the employees were cleaning a loft area of the business that had accumulated significant wood dust.
 
Combustible dust explosions happen all too often in the work environment and they can often be caused by wood dust.  Wood dust is made up of fine particles that can present an explosion hazard when they are suspended in air and come into contact with an ignition source. Wood dust hazards are a potential threat to any business that saws, cuts, drills, grinds, and sands wood materials to either prepare lumber or to use it to manufacture products. 
 
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) offer a list of recommendations for businesses that are at risk.  They include:

• Implement a hazardous dust inspection, testing, housekeeping, and control program;
• Use proper dust collection systems and filters;
• Minimize the escape of dust from process equipment or ventilation systems;
• Use surfaces that minimize dust accumulation and facilitate cleaning;
• Provide access to all hidden areas to permit inspection;
• Inspect for dust residues in open and hidden areas at regular intervals;
• If ignition sources are present, use cleaning methods that do not generate dust clouds;
• Use only vacuum cleaners approved for dust collection; and
• Locate relief valves away from dust deposits.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail