U.K Combustible Dust Fire with Metal Dust

“The fire was on the mezzanine floor in a hopper containing metal dust"
www.miltonkeynes.co.uk

OSHA needs to look at DSEAR and ATEX and include ComDust in the universe of potentially explosive atmospheres in the rulemaking process, which also includes flammable liquids, gases, vapors, and mists. Can't continue like the present situation in the USA with ComDust as a separate entity. Until then, the US Fire Administration will continue to ignore the fire and explosion hazards of ComDust with deficient incident reporting in the National Fire Incident Reporting System NFIRS 5.0

Process Upset Causes Combustible Dust Related Fire

Another minor combustible dust fire in the news with no injuries or fatalities. That is the good news..Yet stakeholders need to be aware that besides hot surfaces, arcs, sparks, static electricity, etc (process situations) that can ignite combustible dust, so can process upsets such as the case in this incident.

"combination of water and molten steel can cause a flash-up. That flash of fire likely set dust on fire, which then spread to a nearby storage room." (Watch the video)

WTOL-news article

OSHA is in the rulemaking process for a combustible dust regulation that is a continuum of the OSHA Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program (NEP). The primary problem with this approach, is that it solely notes specific national industries (NAICS)  that supposedly have a high probability or high consequence or potential for combustible dust incidents and ignoring others with potential fire/explosion hazards. Now for the bad news.. According to media account, over 50% of combustible dust related fires and explosions occur in national industries (NAICS) not listed in the the OSHA ComDust NEP, such as the case with this incident

For example, the real eye opener concerning this minor incident, is that this facility is an iron and steel mill national industry (NAICS 331111), which is not acknowledged in the OSHA Dust NEP as having high probability/consequence or potential for combustible dust incidents. So if the tree fell in the forest and no one heard it, did it fall?

There are dozens of other national industries composed of thousands of facilities in the wood, paper, plastic, metal, chemical, and food manufacturing sectors not listed in the OSHA ComDust NEP that have regular occurring minor combustible related dust fires which don't get notice from many other stakeholders either. This attitude is attributed to normalization of deviation as what occurred in the events leading up to the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Same thing with a catastrophic dust explosion as it is a rare event also.

It is time to face reality and get with the program, understanding the ComDust fire/explosion problem is a process condition (equipment) issue and not solely a national industry (NAICS) subject. Whether an industry is listed in the OSHA ComDust NEP or not as a non-NEP NAICS, they all have similar process materials (combustible dust) and process situations (ignition sources). So how can we say that one national industry has high probability/consequence or potential for a combustible dust incident because it is listed yet another one doesn't because it is not listed in the NEP? Yet both industries generate combustible dust during the manufacturing process. This train of thought does not hold water as America is burning. Just remember that any minor combustible dust related fire is a failed catastrophic combustible dust explosion.

 

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Combustible Dust Fire Incident Reporting Deficiencies

A problem arises in the national fire reporting system where there are no data elements specifically identifying manufacturing process equipment involved in ignition of combustible dust. If process condition fire hazards can't be identified, then how can they be properly evaluated and controlled through administrative, PPE and best engineering practices?

"Stakeholders seeking control measures to minimize the probability and severity of combustible dust incidents should work more closely with the fire service."

ohsonline.com-article

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Resources:

1. National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS 5.0) Complete Reference Guide

2. Report on Confined Structure Fires-February 2006, US Fire Administration

3. U.S. Industrial and Manufacturing Property Structure Fires, Oct. 2009, NFPA Fire Analysis and Research Division

4. US Chemical Safety Board, Combustible Dust Hazard Investigation, Nov. 2006

5. NFPA 901 Standard Classifications for Incident Reporting and Fire Protection

Biofuel Fires and Explosions-Google Maps

Google Maps

Ethanol Plant Fires and Explosions

Biodiesel Plant Fires and Explosions



Maps Compiled by John Astad, Director/Research Analyst, Combustible Dust Policy Institute

Combine Harvester Combustible Dust Fires

Informative article on the results of a research study on combustible dust related fires occurring in combine harvesters in the agricultural sector. The harvester diesel engine creates high temperatures resulting in very hot surfaces that can easily ignite the build-up of combustible dust that has low minimum ignition temperatures (MIT).
Stock & Land/Fairfax Media

The entire manufacturing sector can learn from this study as the process situations (ignition sources) of hot surfaces and static electricity can ignite combustible dust at facilities just like that do on a combine harvester. Good housekeeping is essential in minimizing the probability of occurrence in either case.

 

Posted via email from ComDust

Combustible Dust Fires. "It's the nature of the business"

Fire Chief states, "It's the nature of the business." "Part of the problem is the nature of the process that's there. It lends itself to having a fire to begin with. And it's not their fault" Caledon Enterprise

That is the problem here in the USA as many fire departments also believe it's the nature of the business and not the facilities fault. Fires in hoppers, dust collectors, etc. are really confined structure fires occuring in non-combustible containers in addition to in most cases; no fatalities, minor injuries, and no property damage.

Basically we are talking about a smoke scare and that is why these incidents are not reported in the US Fire Administration NFIRS 5.0. Why do we have to wait for a catastrophic ComDust explosion to take proactive action?

Posted via email from ComDust