Resources for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Explosive dust draws warning from OSHA

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Dusty workplaces could prove more hazardous to employees than many Jackson County companies imagined.

A letter to 2,500 companies statewide from the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration will alert businesses later this month to the potential problem of dust igniting under the right circumstances. The letter cites an explosion at a Georgia sugar mill that killed 13 on Feb. 7.
What can cause "combustible dust" explosions?

Sufficient concentrations of dust, which can be generated by sugar, flour, wood, metal and many other materials.

* Enough oxygen to burn the materials.
* An ignition source, such as an electrical spark, a cigarette or a welder.

Combustible dust explosions in Oregon

* On Oct. 25, 2000, an employee of Willamette Industries in Albany died when she was changing a light bulb that helped ignite a wood dust fire. The wood dust covered light fixtures and other equipment at the plant. The company was cited, but ultimately settled with Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration to conduct a wall-to-wall inspection of the company.
* At Mill Rite Farms in Albany, a worker was killed and three others suffered burns and smoke inhalation on Aug. 8, 2002, when dust from a feed pellet system exploded.
* A fireball created by fine wood dust killed a worker at Ace International in Albany on Aug. 11, 2003, when he inhaled toxic and super-heated air into his lungs. The company received a $14,000 citation.
* On May 15, 2006, an employee suffered second- and third degree burns on the hands and arms at Commercial Furniture in Roseburg while removing the bag filter on the powder coat line. In Jackson County, OSHA listed at least 78 companies that will receive the letters explaining the dangers of combustible dust, which can be produced by everything from flour to wood. "There may be companies that don't realize they have these hazards," said OSHA spokeswoman Melanie Mesaros.

Explosions can occur if there are sufficient quantities of oxygen, a fuel source such as dust particles and something to ignite it.

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