Combustible Dust Housekeeping Guide

Who would have thought that dust can be a cause of an explosion? Most people probably think dust is inert and a sign of laziness. In reality though, some types of dust can actually cause explosions under certain conditions – leading to injury, death and destruction.

There are different kinds of dust so it is important to recognize what type of dust is found in your facility and whether it is listed as an explosive dust by OSHA. There are agricultural, carbonaceous, metal, chemical and plastic dusts. Some require more serious management than others. The previous page lists dust makers as provided by OSHA.