8/3/2019 2003 09 Combustible Dusts

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Messages for Manufacturing Personnel

September 2003

Heres What Happened:

This facility produced automotiveinsulation and handled combustiblesolids as a raw material. While a partof the plant was down for cleaning athick cloud of dust was generated. Itsomehow ignited causing a pressurewave strong enough to disturb andsuspend more dust. When this newdust ignited, it caused an even stronger

secondary explosion.

The resulttragically, there were 7fatalities, more than 30 people injuredand the building was destroyed.

Dust can be MUCH more than just a housekeeping problem !

How Did This Happen?

Employees did not understand the explosivehazards of dust. This dust explosion pentagonshows the components necessary for a dustexplosion to occur:

fuel+ oxygen+ dispersion+ confinement+ ignition =

Dust control measures were inadequate andignition sources were present.

The first explosion may have been minor, but itcaused dust on other equipment and hiddenlocations, such as building support steel,suspended ceilings, and duct work, to be air borne.When this second wave of dust ignited, itgenerated a much stronger explosion.

Dust did This ????

CENTER FOR

CHEMICAL PROCESS SAFETY

Combustible Dusts: What You Can DoCombustible Dusts: What You Can Do

to be Safe !to be Safe !

If your facility handles materials thatgenerate dust, find out if they arecombustible and know their hazards. Ifunsure, DONT ASSUME! Find out.

Dust accumulation on equipment,building support steel, duct work and in

suspended ceilings could contribute to asecondary explosion. Review cleaningprocedures and find out what you cando to keep dust from accumulating.

Pay attention to small dust leaks.They can be more than just a house-keeping problem. They can be a majorsafety issue.

Be aware of any unsealed or hidden

areas where dust might accumulate.Take care not to generate a dust cloudwhen working in or cleaning an area orequipment.

Do what you can to identify andcontrol ignition sources. Closely followyour Hot Work procedures andmaintain electrical equipmentto proper code classifications.

AIChE 2003. All rights reserved. Reproduction for non-commercial, educational purposes is encouraged. However, reproductionfor the purpose of resale by anyone other than CCPS is strictly prohibited. Contact us at ccps_beacon@aiche.org or 212-591-7319

PSID Members look in: Free Search---Dust

This edition is also available in German. Contact CCPS at ccps_beacon@aiche.org for information.

Ignition

Confinement

Oxygen

Fuel

Dispersion

SS

Photograph courtesy of The U. S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.

Visit their web site at http://www.csb.gov for more information