OSHA Inspects and Cites Manufacturer in Accordance with the National Emphasis Program for Combustible Dust

This summer the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it had conducted an inspection in accordance with the National Emphasis Program (NEP) for Combustible Dust at a manufacturing plant in Georgia. The company was cited and faces significant penalties for allowing combustible dust to accumulate on surfaces, failing to implement a respiratory protection program, and other violations.
 
The Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program (OSHA Directive CPL 03-00-008) first became effective over a decade ago. Updates were later made to the directive in 2015. It provides policies and procedures for inspecting workplaces that create or handle combustible dusts. In some circumstances these dusts may cause a deflagration, other fires, or an explosion. The types of dusts include, but are not limited to, metal dust such as aluminum and magnesium; wood dust; coal and other carbon dusts; plastic dust and additives; biosolids; other organic dust such as sugar, flour, paper, soap, and dried blood; and certain textile materials. Some of the industries identified by OSHA that handle combustible dusts include agriculture, chemicals, textiles, forest and furniture products, wastewater treatment, metal processing, paper products, pharmaceuticals, and recycling operations (metal, paper, and plastic).
 
“Preventing the accumulation of dust that could lead to a catastrophic explosion resulting in deaths, injuries, and the destruction of property is a critical function in many industrial and manufacturing facilities,” said Dirk Yamamoto, PhD, CIH^® and Chair of the Board for Global EHS Credentialing^®. “In these industries, programs need to designed, implemented, and managed to identify and mitigate potential combustible dust dangers in the workplace.”
 
Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIHs) are trained to recognize and prevent these types of risks for workers and the public. Core competencies of the CIH^® program that are critical for identifying hazards include workplace assessments; air sampling and instrumentational analysis; chemical and biohazards; engineering controls and ventilation; health risk analysis and hazard communication; and work environments and industrial processes. These and other central components of the Certified Industrial Hygienist^® program are crucial for establishing and maintaining a safe and healthy work environment to protect employees and help companies avoid costly noncompliance penalties.
 
About the Board for Global EHS Credentialing^® (BGC^®) and Its Credentials and Designations
Founded in 1960, the Board for Global EHS Credentialing’s mission is to be the leader in offering credentials that elevate the technical and ethical standards for professionals practicing the science of protecting, managing, and enhancing the health and safety of people and the environment. The American Board of Industrial Hygiene^® (ABIH^®) and the Institute of Professional Environmental Practice^® (IPEP^®) are credentialing divisions of the BGC, offering the Certified Industrial Hygienist^® (CIH^®) credential, Qualified Environmental Professional^® (QEP^®) credential, and the Environmental Professional In-Training^® (EPI^®) designation. 
 
Currently, more than 7,600 people around the world hold the CIH credential, QEP credential, or EPI designation. To locate a CIH to perform industrial hygiene services, please email a request to Info@EHSCredentialing.org . To learn more about a BGC credential or designation, please visit www.EHSCredentialing.org, email Info@EHSCredentialing.org or call (517) 321-2638.
 

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Paul Cochrane

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Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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