Flame Resistant Clothing/Combustible Dust Hazards-Podcast#5

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David Osbon, Product Manager at Unifirst shares with listeners the importance of wearing flame resistant clothing (FRC) at facilities that handle combustible particulate solids that generate combustible dust. In the instance of a combustible dust related fire or explosion the thermal effects can cause severe burn injuries in addition to fatalities

The importance of workers donning personnel protective equipment (PPE) takes on an added dimension with the threat from combustible dust related fires and explosions in the workplace. Many manufacturing facility managers, owners, and employees are not aware of the fire hazard from combustible dust incidents when workers can sustain life threatening burns like occur in the refinery sector from vapor cloud explosions and flash fires, where the wearing of FRC's is required.

Reviewing the OSHA Combustible Dust NEP reference is made in the citations section:

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Violations. Citations under 1910.132(a) (the general requirement to provide and assure the use of protective equipment, including protective clothing) may be issued, if an employee exposure to potential burn injuries can be documented. For example, if employees are not wearing protective clothing, such as flame-resistant clothing , in areas of the plant (e.g., bagging areas) where employees may be exposed to potential flash fire hazards, then citations under 1910.132(a) may be issued. A citation may be issued whether or not an accident precipitated the inspection.

Additionally, in regards to the life safety issue of donning FRC's in the workplace, the OSHA General Duty Clause requires that employers provide FRC's to employees when a hazard is potentially present from combustible dust related fires and explosions. Furthermore the OSHA Dust NEP states:

"...National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 2113, Standard on Selection, Care, Use and Maintenance of Flame-Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Flash Fire is a national consensus standard which applies to, among others, chemical, refining, and terminal facilities with flash fire hazards..."

Resources:
NFPA 70E Electrical Safety in the Workplace
NFPA 2112: Standard on Flame-Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Flash Fire, National Consensus Standard
ASTM Committee E27.05 on Explosibility and Ignitability of Dust Clouds
ASTM Committee F-23 on Protective Clothing
Podcasts-Combustible Dust Hazard Awareness

OSHA Ethanol Plant Safety Training

In addition to combustible dust related fires and explosions in the manufacturing sector, media accounts reported nine ethanol plant fires and explosions for 2008. Several of these incidents involved dryers and duct work, which is combustible dust related. Through researching these events, the Combustible Dust Policy Institute found that over 30% of these incidents occurred in South Dakota, a leading grain producing state.

To proactively address the issue of fire and explosions hazards, the Office of Engineering Extension at South Dakota State University is offering a 10-hour, OSHA voluntary compliance safety and health course for the ethanol industry Jan. 21-22 at the Days Inn on East 6th Street, Brookings, South Dakota. The course is set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Cost is $160 per person. Companies that bring 10 or more attendees pay $140 per employee. Brookings the fifth largest city in South Dakota and home to South Dakota State University, is a short drive, 58 miles north of Sioux Falls, S.D.

For out of state attendees to the ethanol workshop, travel connections can easily be made from several domestic airlines serving Sioux Falls Regional Airport offering non-stop flight service to a number of major U.S. airport hubs, which includes Chicago O'Hare, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport, and Orlando Sanford International Airport, to name a few.

Course topics during the two day program will consist of critical training, which includes an outline of OSHA standards, environmental health controls, fire protection, grain handling and conveyor safety, electrical safety, and railroad and materials handling safety.

Course Presenters

Beth Malsom-Safety & HealthConsultant, Engineering Extension, SDSU.
Beth is OSHA trained in Electrical Safety, Machine Guarding, Industrial Hygiene and is an Authorized General Industry and Construction Outreach Trainer. She has a B.S. in Agricultural Systems Technology with an Environmental and Chemical emphasis from South Dakota State University.

James Manning-Program Director, EngineeringExtension, SDSU.
James is a Civil Engineer and an instructor in the Engineering Technology and Management Department at SDSU. He is an OSHA-authorized construction industry outreach trainer. He has an M.S. in Civil Engineering from South Dakota State University.

Mike Monnens-Safety & Health Consultant, Engineering Extension, SDSU.
Mike is OSHA trained in Electrical Safety, Machine Guarding, Industrial Hygiene, and other topics. Previous to joining Engineering, Mike was the program engineer with the University/Industry Technology Service at SDSU. He has a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering
and an M.S. in Engineering with an Agricultural Engineering emphasis, both from South Dakota State University.

Albert A. Patin-Industrial Hygienist, Engineering Extension, SDSU.
Albert is OSHA trained inProcess Safety Management, Industrial Hygiene, HAZWOPER, Hazardous Materials, Respiratory Protection, Hazard Communication, Noise, Electrical and Machine Guarding. He has a B.S. in Environmental Sciences with an emphasis in Microbiology and Industrial Hygiene/Chemistry from the University of Arizona.

Jon A. Puetz-Safety and Health Consultant, Engineering Extension, SDSU.
Jon is OSHA trained in Process Safety Management, Industrial Hygiene, HAZWOPER, Fall Protection, Construction Standards, Electrical Standards, Machine Guarding, Process Safety
Management and is an Authorized General Industry Outreach Trainer. He has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a MEd. in Curriculum and Instruction, both from South Dakota State University

Businesses can register employees for the course by contacting Engineering Extension at 605-688-4101 or by e-mailing Mary.Reeter@SDSTATE.EDU

Google Map Ethanol Plant Fires and Explosions