Last week we held another educational webinar on combustible dust, titled Combustible Dust Preventative Maintenance: More than just housekeeping.
The webinar was presented in partnership with EHS Today and New Equipment Digest magazines. It provided a basic understanding of the combustible dust issue effecting today’s industrial sector, discussed critical housekeeping tips and recommendations, and included a tutorial on choosing a “properly-equipped” industrial vacuum cleaner, as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administrations (OSHA) and the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA). It concluded with a 20 minute Q &A session.
Background: In recent years, OSHA has set their sights on combustible dust, naming it a high regulatory priority and issuing a National Emphasis Program with guidelines and recommendations for decreasing the risk of combustible dust fires or explosions in industrial settings. As a result, manufacturers are being closely monitored by the agency through random audits and being dealt hefty fines for not taking the necessary preventive precautions. Fortunately, facilities can significantly reduce their risk of costly violations, and most importantly, a combustible dust accident, by instilling best engineering practices that include a solid maintenance plan to eliminate dangerous dust accumulations on floors, walls, machinery, and overhead areas.
