OSHA Releases Combustible Dust Guidance Document

The guidance document helps manufacturers and distributors recognize the potential for dust explosions, identify appropriate protective measures and learn the requirements for material safety data sheets and labels.

OSHA defines combustible dusts as solids finely ground into fine particles, fibers, chips, chunks or flakes that can cause a fire or explosion when suspended in air under certain conditions. Types of dusts include metal (aluminum and magnesium), wood, plastic or rubber, biosolids, coal, organic (such as flour, sugar and paper) and dusts from certain textiles.