Classifying combustible dust with the type of incident caused is a new science. It’s also not easy to get this information as the OSHA definitions of these dusts such as the NFPA 499 document is classified. The OSHA website only highlights “metal” and “organic” categorizations, but the data is not extensive. There are two other ways to categorize combustible dust explosions. First is by material the dust is made of, common materials and the distribution of combustible incidences. This data is as follows:
- Wood – 24 percent of incidents
- Plastic – 14 percent of incidents
- Coal – 8 percent of incidents
- Food – 23 percent of incidents
- Metal – 20 percent of incidents
- Other organic materials – 7 percent of incidents
- Other inorganic materials – 4 percent of incidents
The second way of classification is by the industry in which it occurs. The following are the most common industries and the distribution of combustible dust incidents:
- Food Products – 24 percent of incidents
- Lumber & Wood Products – 15 percent of incidents
- Chemical Manufacturing – 12 percent of incidents
- Primary Metal Industries – 8 percent of incidents
- Rubber & Plastic Products – 8 percent of incidents
- Electrical Services – 8 percent of incidents
- Other Industries – 7 percent of incidents
- Fabricated Metal Products – 7 percent of incidents
- Equipment Manufacturing – 7 percent of incidents
- Furniture & Fixtures – 4 percent of incidents
This information is the closest data available to the OSHA guidelines and comes from the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.
