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If you work in an industry that handles combustible particles then you know the importance of working with vacuums that can withstand a potential ignition because it not only safeguards the safety of your workers but also the success of your business.

You are so wrong if you think that dust is inert. Specks of dust can lead to explosions under certain conditions leading to hefty fines by OSHA, destruction of property and worse of all, deaths.

Examples of Combustible Dust

By now it is a fact that dust can be combustible. It has been confirmed that accumulation of combustible dust can lead to an explosion. It is, therefore, important for those who work with particles to understand combustible dust safety.

Industries that are affected are those that have factories, storage areas and plants or silos that may have combustible dust. This involves different industries from computer manufacturing plants to food production industries.

Handling explosive dust is a dangerous affair because any contact with an ignition source can cause harmful effects. This type of explosion can result in serious injuries and deaths. In this blog, we are going to highlight the monetary costs that are associated with these types of incidents.

If you run a factory that deals with non-explosive resources, working with combustible materials can be a formidable task. There are safety regulations that you should keep in mind such as the OSHA regulations about the layout of your workspace and many others.

Combustible dust is easily eliminated using an explosion-proof vacuum cleaner. On the other hand, there are some dusts that need special handling. Dusts are categorized as impact sensitive, propellants or explosive.

The colder months are the most dangerous for combustible dust hazards as the low humidity make it easier for particles to collect in a confined area and cause an explosion. A study done by the U.S.

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.

Winter is a season that poses certain dangers such as travel and health. In the world of industrial manufacturing, winter also raises the risks of combustible dust accidents. What raises the risk?

Disregarding safety measures on combustible dust fires risks the lives of your workers and leads to hefty fines, production downtime, loss of wages and future inspection scrutiny.

Waste Industry consists all those activities and action required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal. This includes amongst other things, collection, transport, treatment and disposal of waste. 

A Warehouse & Distribution Center is a commercial building for storage of goods.

Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters,wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc

The tobacco industry comprises those persons and companies engaged in the growth, preparation for sale, shipment, advertisement, and distribution of tobacco and tobacco-related products.  Workers of tobacco industries are chronically and predominantly exposed to tobacco dust.

The term Textile industry was originally applied to the weaving of fabrics from fibres, but now it includes a broad range of other processes such as knitting, tufting, felting and so on.

Shipyards & Dockyards activities comprise some of the most hazardous work place operations. Hazards include exposure to toxic substances, hazardous atmospheres, fires, and explosions.

http://prestivac.com/blog/how-to-safely-recover-chromium-toxic-dustWhile recycling is good for the environment, it can be dangerous for workers.

Pyrotechnics is the science of using materials capable of undergoing self-contained and self-sustained exothermic chemical reactions for the production of heat, light, gas, smoke and/or sound.

Workers in the pulp and paper industry are exposed to different substances, such as hydrogen sulfide and other reduced sulfur compounds, chlorine, chlorine dioxide, sulfur dioxide, terpenes, and paper dust.

Exposure to hazardous chemicals is the cause of thousands of worker injuries every year in the power industry. Workers routinely come into contact with chemicals such as corrosives, oxidizers and solvents.

Plastics are synthetic polymers that are made up of long chains of repeating molecular units called monomers.  Monomers are the building blocks of polymers.

The pharmaceutical industry is an important component of health care systems throughout the world; it is comprised of many public and private organizations that discover, develop, manufacture and market medicines for human health.

The potential occupational health hazards encountered in the Packaging Industry is due to the raw material used.  Packaging contains, protects, preserves, transports, and sells.

The nutraceutical industry represents a dynamic, evolving entity that offers novel opportunities to merge scientific discovery with growing consumer interest in health-enhancing foods.

The nuclear industry is the worldwide business that creates electricity through controlled nuclear reactions. Government and private organizations around the world employ nuclear reactors to generate power.

Municipalities have many public facilities that need to be maintained.  Some of the facilities and services   include sanitation, water, streets, the public library, schools, food inspection, fire department, police, ambulance, and transportation.

Mining has always been among the most hazardous of occupations, and with the increasing demand for coal and minerals. Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or ores from the earth.

The Military / Defense Industry comprises the production, sale, and service of commercial aircraft and is also dependent on the nation's need for military weapons and systems designed to operate on land, sea, and in the air. 

Dust is the main Health and Safety Hazard in the Metals Industry.  The dangers of inhaling different metal dust really depends on the material you are working with.  Toxic metals, including "heavy metals," are individual metals and metal compounds that negatively affect people's health.

The laboratory environment can be a hazardous place to work. Laboratory workers are exposed to numerous potential hazards including chemical, biological, physical and radioactive hazards, as well as, musculoskeletal stresses.

Vermiculite is a silver-gold to gray-brown mineral that is flat and shiny in its natural state. When heated to around 1000 degrees C, it pops (or puffs up) which creates pockets of air.

Healthcare is involved, directly or indirectly, with the provision of health services to individuals.

Healthcare is involved, directly or indirectly, with the provision of health services to individuals.

The Foundry processes involve making the mould and the core, melting and pouring the metal into the mould, and finally removing the mould and core and finishing the product.  A very important hazard is the process generates substantial amounts of metal dust fumes.

Firing & Shooting Ranges expose the environment to lead pollution caused by the presence of lead in ammunition projectiles.

The Fertilizer Industry faces two distinct hazards.  First, fertilizer plants, particularly those manufacturing ammonia are amongst the most complex plants in the chemical industry.

The Environment Industry is composed of establishments operating in a variety of industries that produce environmental goods and services.

The Energy & Natural Resources Industry involves the production and sale of energy, including fuel extraction, manufacturing, refining and distribution.

Health hazards in the Electronics Industry is an issue in occupational hygiene due to the chemical hazard encountered. Health manifestations due to low level exposure to toxins may take decades to surface.

The Education Industry consists of schools, colleges, universities and various private institutions.

A data center is a facility used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems.

Increasing demand of cosmetics all over the world from teen to adult has increased awareness related to safety issue. Many ingredients that possess health effect that can be found in cosmetics and personal care products.

Construction is a high hazard industry that comprises a wide range of activities involving residential construction, bridge erection, roadway paving, excavations, demolitions, and large scale painting jobs.  

Any Combustible Dust can burn rapidly when in a fine divided form.  When such a dust is suspended in air in the right concentration, under certain conditions, it can become explosive.  Even materials that do not burn in larger pieces, such as aluminum, given the proper conditions, can be explosiv

The Coal Industry remains an important industrial sector in many parts of the world and although substantial progress has been made in the control of occupational health hazards, there remains room for further risk reduction.

A cleanroom is a controlled environment where products are manufactured. It is a room in which the concentration of airborne particles is controlled to specified limits. Eliminating sub-micron airborne contamination is really a process of control.

Chemicals have become an indispensable part of human life, sustaining activities and development, preventing and controlling many diseases, and increasing agricultural productivity.

The modern Biological / Biotechnology industry employs thousands of people and is growing rapidly.

Health and Safety hazard are present in the Automotive / Body Repair Shops.  During auto body repair, sanding removes paint from surfaces and makes body panels smooth repaired with body filling compounds.

The two major Health and Safety Hazards in the Ammunitions & Fire Arms Industries are airborne toxic exposure and explosive environment. Oxide airborne followed by inhalation would lead to chronic lead poisoning.

Agriculture ranks among the most dangerous industries, according to the United States Department of Labor.

Substantial number of potentially serious hazards are associated with the Aerospace & Aviation Industry. Health hazards associated with aircraft manufacture and maintenance are primarily related to the toxicity of the materials used and their potential for exposure and fuel recovery.

The abatement process involves various stages to ensure the safe removal and disposal of the toxic materials.  Whether it is lead, mold or asbestos, these hazardous materials may be present in your facility.

There are many Health and Safety Hazards in the 3D Printing Industry (Additive Manufacturing Technology). 3D Printing generates UFP’s (Ultra Fine Particles) and Nanoparticles. These particles are both toxic and combustible.