Proforma Safety Blog

OSHA Issues Hazard Communication Guidance for Combustible Dusts

Posted by proforma on August 3, 2009  |  No Comments

OSHA has published  Hazard Communication Guidance for Combustible Dusts  intended to provide guidance on the identification of combustible hazards in the workplace and appropriate communication for workers on their presence.

In particular, the document is intended for chemical manufacturers and importers to help them recognize where and when an explosion is possible, protective measures they can take, and requirements for material safety data sheets and labels.

The document is based on the work of The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), which identified 281 combustible dust incidents between 1980 and 2005 that caused the death of 119 workers and injured 718. This excerpt from the document describes the findings:

“In many of the incidents, workers and managers were unaware of the potential for dust explosions, or failed to recognize the serious nature of dust explosion hazards. The CSB reviewed Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) of 140 known substances that produce combustible dusts and found poor or inadequate transmittal of information regarding potential dust hazards; 41% of the MSDSs reviewed by the CSB did not warn users about potential explosion hazards. Of the remaining 59% of MSDSs sampled, most of the information was either not stated in a place or manner clearly recognized by workers, or was not specific to hazards related to combustible dusts.”