OVERVIEW COMBUSTIBLE DUST QUIZ

Produced under OSHA Susan Harwood grantSH-19509-09

• What is a Combustible Dust?

• ANSWER: What is “A combustible particulate solid that presents a fire or deflagration hazard when suspended in air”. (also, for WOOD DUST, moisture content is NOT a factor).

COMBUSTIBLE DUST FACTSCOMBUSTIBLE DUST FACTS

• Name as many types of combustible dusts as you can remember..

• ANSWER: What are METAL Dusts like Aluminum and Magnesium, Coal, Carbon Dusts, Plastic dusts and additives, Bio-solids, Organic dusts such as Sugar, Flour, Soap, and Dried Blood, certain textiles, and WOOD DUST.

COMBUSTIBLE DUST FACTSCOMBUSTIBLE DUST FACTS

• Is Combustible Wood Dust REGULATED?

• ANSWER: What is YES – because an OSHA COMPLIANCE DIRECTIVE exists. Remember, a Compliance Directive is a collection of OSHA standards that, when taken together, achieve the controls in the absence of a standard.

COMBUSTIBLE DUST FACTSCOMBUSTIBLE DUST FACTS

• Name as many items as you can remember that make up the Combustible Dust Compliance Directive…

• ANSWER: What is NFPA Codes, OSHA Title 29 Standards on Housekeeping, Electrical Standards, and the General Duty Clause.

COMBUSTIBLE DUST FACTSCOMBUSTIBLE DUST FACTS

• IF your operation has INDICATORS of Combustible Dust, is that enough for a Citation?

• ANSWER: What is YES. That might change in the future when a standard is issued.

COMBUSTIBLE DUST FACTSCOMBUSTIBLE DUST FACTS

• Name HAZARDS related to Combustible Dust in increasing order…

• ANSWER: What is 1-FIRE; 2-DEFLAGRATION, and 3-EXPLOSION.

TYPES of HAZARDSTYPES of HAZARDS

• What makes up the FIRE TRIANGLE?

• ANSWER: What is Oxygen, Fuel, and Heat?

TYPES of HAZARDSTYPES of HAZARDS

• Name as many SOURCES OF IGNITION that you can remember…

• ANSWER: What are Overheated equipment bearings, Open Flame, Sparks, Hot metal fragments, Welding Activity, Electrical shorts, static electricity discharges, Forklifts NOT RATED for the dusty area(s), Space heaters, Heat Guns, and similar devices.

TYPES of HAZARDSTYPES of HAZARDS

• What is a “DEFLAGRATION”?

• ANSWER: What is FIRE TRIANGLE conditions WITH dispersion of WOOD DUST in air? (Remember that a deflagration is a “cloud” of wood dust that is and remains airborne. If it ignites, it’s a “sub-sonic” explosion that can be seen)

TYPES of HAZARDSTYPES of HAZARDS

• What is a dust EXPLOSION?

• ANSWER: What is a DEFLAGRATION condition that is also UNDER CONFINEMENT. (Remember that confinement means contained in a tank, vessel, silo, bag house, storage bin, etc. If Ignited, the pressure rise is a “supersonic” explosion that’s faster than the speed of sound)

TYPES of HAZARDSTYPES of HAZARDS

• TRUE or FALSE, NFPA Standards are Short, Simple, and Easy to understand..

• ANSWER: What is FALSE! They’re complex, and have to be read for detail!

NFPA Codes You Need To Know AboutNFPA Codes You Need To Know About

• Why can OSHA cite an operation for things that are in NFPA Codes?

• ANSWER: What is BECAUSE THEY RELY on the content to evaluate conditions against best practices (optimal specifications).

NFPA Codes You Need To Know AboutNFPA Codes You Need To Know About

• What are the TWO types of CONTROL METHODS in NFPA Codes?

• ANSWER: What is 1-Performance based, and 2-Prescriptive based. (Remember that performance means the combination of equipment “gets the job done”. A Prescriptive based system is a set of SPECIFIC DESIGN REQUIREMENTS)

NFPA Codes You Need To Know AboutNFPA Codes You Need To Know About

• What NFPA Code deals with DEFLAGRATION VENTING?

• ANSWER: What is NFPA 68?

NFPA Codes You Need To Know AboutNFPA Codes You Need To Know About

• What NFPA Code deals with the Prevention of Fires and Explosions in WOODWORKING Operations?

• ANSWER: What is NFPA 664. (Remember, OSHA will use and apply the NFPA code that covers your operation. NFPA 664 is frequently used).

NFPA Codes You Need To Know AboutNFPA Codes You Need To Know About

• What OSHA standard is used to PREVENT DUST ACCUMULATION on slopes, overhead beams, joists, and equipment tops?

• ANSWER: What is the Housekeeping standard?

OSHA STANDARDSOSHA STANDARDS

• What are the TWO dust accumulation conditions you need to know?

• ANSWER: What is 1-Dust accumulation at or greater than 1/32 of an inch depth, AND 2-Surface accumulation in an area 5% or greater than the total square footage.

OSHA STANDARDSOSHA STANDARDS

• What OSHA standards and NFPA Codes apply for the control of ELECTRICAL hazards (sources of Ignition).

• ANSWER What is 1-OSHA Standards at 29 CFR 1910.303 and others, 2-NFPA 70 & 70 E.

OSHA STANDARDSOSHA STANDARDS

• What is another OSHA standard that’s applied to control Welding Activity?

• ANSWER What is the HOT WORK standard?

OSHA STANDARDSOSHA STANDARDS

• What is the OSHA section that can cause a citation even if no OSHA standards exist?

• ANSWER: What is the OSHA General Duty Clause 5(a)(1)?

OSHA STANDARDSOSHA STANDARDS

• What is the BEST WAY to survey your facility for wood dust hazards?

• ANSWER: What is a walk through INSPECTION?

CONDITIONS & CONTROLSCONDITIONS & CONTROLS

• Who has a role in preventing Fire Hazards, Deflagrations, and Explosions?

• ANSWER: What is BOTH management AND Employees

CONDITIONS & CONTROLSCONDITIONS & CONTROLS

• Name as many things as you can remember about Management roles and responsibilities…

• ANSWER: What is 1-Follow NFPA Codes, 2-Ensure housekeeping, 3-Ensure Ignition sources are controlled, 4-Create a documentation record, and 5-Understand the employee role is critical!

CONDITIONS & CONTROLSCONDITIONS & CONTROLS

• Name as many things as you can about employee roles and responsibilities…

• ANSWER: What is 1-Inspect the work area frequently, 2-Look for and control ignition sources, 3-Look for and report damaged equipment that are sources of ignition, and 4-Complete documentation records required by supervision.

CONDITIONS & CONTROLSCONDITIONS & CONTROLS

• Name as many types of VIBRATING EQUIPMENT and Processes that you can remember that can cause accumulated dust to be suspended in air?

• ANSWER: What are 1-Shaker tables, 2-Conveyor belts, 3-Chippers, Stacker presses, Drive motors, Air lancing, dry sweeping, and ANYTHING that causes dust to become stirred up!

CONDITIONS & CONTROLSCONDITIONS & CONTROLS