Heres the latest on the Congressional Budget Office cost estimate of H.R. 5522, Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Act of 2008. Click on the link below for the informative 2 page .pdf file that was released by the CBO, 17 April 2008.
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE .pdf file
Friday, April 18, 2008
Cost Estimate: ComDustx and Fire Prevention Act
63,000 Firms Under OSHA ComDust Program
OSHA's Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program includes over 63,000 firms across a wide spectrum of industries. If all the firms were to be inspected in a one year period then that would equate to 200 inspections daily in determining if a combustible dust hazard exists. This would be impossible with OSHA's limited resources . Additionally, the magnitude of the problem increases with the number of establishments the individual firm has. So one must take into account the number of facilities to increase by 20-30 % from the amount of establishments a firm has.
The Combustible Dust Policy Institute recently completed a study, using the data from the 300 incidents compiled from the Chemical Safety Board combustible dust study. The findings were revealing utilizing U.S. Census Bureau data that was obtained from North American Industrial Classification System records. For instance, an additional 66 manufacturing industries that have a history of combustible dust explosions and fires that OSHA has ignored and is not listed in the Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program. This would conservatively add another 50,000 firms that are exposed to potentially hazardous combustible dust.
With over 113,000 firms in process manufacturing that potentially generate combustible dust explosive atmospheres it is quite clear that voluntary compliance and waiting on the arrival of an OSHA inspector is out of the question. Since the Imperial Sugar refinery explosion in February there has been over 30 combustible dust related fires and explosions.
Either the planets, moon ,and sun had to be in perfect alignment for such a high number of incidents or all of a sudden combustible dust explosions occurred due to pure coincidence. Either way, the 281 combustible dust incidents that the Chemical Safety Board compiled is only a small sample from the period 1980-2005.
A more reasonable number of combustible dusts incidents extrapolating the current 30 incidents would be over 3,000 combustible incidents over the past three decades. During the course of future pending legislation concerning the Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Act, the Combustible Dust Policy Institute will be completing additional studies in determining the breadth of this complex issue.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Training Combustible Dust Webinar
Good news! The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and OSHA are presenting a FREE webinar on Combustible Dust on May 14, 2008 10:00-11:00 AM
To register, send your email address to rita.mosley@illinois.gov,.
OSHA Assistant Regional Administrator Mr. John Newquist, of Region 5 will be conducting the one hour training session. Participants can either participate in the seminar on their computer or visit the training site in person at the EiigerLab on 605 Fulton Avenue in Rockford, Illinois.
ATEX: ATmosphères EXplosibles
It's odd that our major global trading partners have instituted proactive controls in the protection of the workplace and personnel from the hazards of combustible dust incidents. Yet here in the United States under the direction of the current OSHA management there is a wait and see attitude with the idea that additional studies must be completed before further OSHA standards can be instituted concerning the hazards of combustible dust.
With innovative leadership, OSHA could instead develop a program similar to the ATEX standards that have been implemented since 2003 in Europe. Here is an excellent resource that will provide industry with guidance in developing a proactive combustible dust preventive and mitigative program. Browse the articles provided by Epsilon:
Web Based Articles
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Combustible Dust Training-May 5-8
Now that the word is getting out concerning the explosive atmospheres that are generated by combustible dusts in the workplace. It's time to obtain some training from professionals who work daily in the industry providing protection for all process industries.
The Process Technology for Industry International Expo (PTXi ) in Rosemont, Illinois on May 5-8 is the place to go. Also referred to as the International Powder & Bulk Solids show. The extravaganza has been joined by Pharma Process, Chem Process, and the Process Pack shows. So there will be plenty of venues to participate in across a wide spectrum of industry. Heres a quote from the website concerning the educational sessions:
The 2008 Process Technology Expo International Conference will provide leading educational sessions structured with extensive input from process industry experts to provide practical high-value information attendees can immediately apply to their job responsibilities.
Topics covered on combustible dusts at the PTXi conference daily educational sessions:
Conference registration includes:
- Lunch on registered day(s)
- A set of PTXi proceedings for registered day(s)
- Canvas tote bag
- Coffee and refreshments during the session breaks
- Complimentary admission to the expo
Conference Fees | |||
| 20% discount rates (Exhibitor, Govt, Student) | Early bird discounted rates | Standard on site rates (after April 11) | |
1 day | $315 | $395 | $495 |
Full Conference | $635 | $795 | $895 |
Link to PTXi Conference
ComDust Hazardous Communication
Since OSHA has failed to proactively address hazardous communication of combustible dust hazards, the Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Blog will be providing pertinent information to interested stakeholders who wish to prevent and mitigate future incidents.
Todays post at the Combustible Dust Policy Institute will begin with signage that is used in the European ATEX 137 Combustible Dust Program, which is part of the explosion protection document.
SIGNS
The directive requires that all areas classified as hazardous be identified with a warning sign. The sign must be triangular, black on yellow with the text Ex. The signs must be displayed at points of entry into explosive atmospheresThe Combustible Dust Policy Institute (CDPI) is especially concerned regarding firefighters who respond to fires not knowing that the facility utilizes non-hazardous combustible particulate solids that generate explosive atmospheres of seemingly harmless combustible dust. Of major concern is a primary and secondary combustible dust explosions occuring while the firefighters are inside the building.
November 14, 2005 -And in Iowa, two firefighters are recovering today after two explosions at a Pella (Iowa) company. The Pella fire chief says a dust explosion ignited a fire inside the American Wood Fibers plant early Sunday afternoon.
As firefighters tried to put out the fire, another explosion took place. Two firefighters suffered hand injuries as concrete and metal flew through the air. One firefighter was treated and released from a hospital. The other had to be airlifted to a Des Moines hospital. His condition has not been released.
This isn't the first time there's been trouble at American Wood Fibers. Back in December of 2002, an explosion and fire consumed the plant. Police believe wood dust caused that explosion.
Placement of the signs at all entry points will provide the necessary initial hazardous communication to everyone in the vicinity of a potentially explosive atmosphere during normal operating hours in addition to fire emergencies. Yesterday an event in Hamilton, Ontario Canada where firefighters responded to a factory blaze that contained rat poisons, which they had no knowledge of while fighting the fire. If warning signs like to NFPA 704 signs were located on the outside of the building maybe proper warning would of been communicated and fire crews could assess the hazards accordingly
NPFA 704 signage at building entry points is just one example to illustrate the importance in communicating the hazard in a real scenario. Explosive atmosphere signage would work in the same manner as it currently is required in the European Union. Our brave and dedicated firefighters require the same amount of transparency upon arriving on the scene of a facility fire.
Firefighters injured in dust dxplosion
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