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Combustible Dust: OSHA Prepares for Standards –
Setting
The U.S.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) is commencing a comprehensive rulemaking
on regulating “combustible dust.”
"During the years, combustible dust explosions
have caused many deaths and devastating injuries
that could have been prevented," says U.S.
Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "OSHA is
reinvigorating the regulatory process to ensure
workers receive the protection they need while
also ensuring that employers have the tools
needed to make their workplaces safer."
Combustible dusts
are solids finely ground into find particles,
fibers, chips, chunks or flakes that can cause a
fire or explosion when suspended in air under
certain conditions. Types of dusts include
metal (aluminum and magnesium), wood, and
plastic among others.
OSHA will issue an
“Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” and
convene related stakeholder meetings to evaluate
possible regulatory methods, and request data
and comments on issues related to combustible
dust such as hazard recognition, assessment,
communication, defining combustible dust and
other concerns.
NLBMDA will
actively participate in the rulemaking process
representing the interest of LBM dealers and we
will keep you updated as to how this new ruling
will affect our industry.
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