Combustible Dust may be Lurking in Your Workplace

Are you aware of the numerous types of industries that are at risk for a combustible dust explosion?  Types of dust that have the potential to explode include not only organic materials like flour, sugar, and wood, but also inorganic materials such as certain metals, paints, plastics, pharmaceuticals, and some types of textiles.

In order to lower the risk of having an explosion you need to avoid having the five ingredients involved in a dust explosion; these are classified as the “dust explosion pentagon.”  These five ingredients are oxygen, heat, fuel, dispersion and confinement.  An explosion emerges when dust fuel is dispersed into oxygen reaching a sufficient level of concentration in an area of confinement and comes into contact with an ignition source, heat.  Often the initial dust explosion is small, but once the explosion expands it travels through vents and duct work, increasing strength as it feeds off the dust fuel accumulated in those areas.

Mastery’s new course, “Combustible Dust,” supplies comprehensive training for workplaces with the threat of a dust explosion.  Covering explosion basics and how to prevent hazards, the course gives learners real-life depictions of where the threat of an explosion hides in the workplace.  The course is offered in both Mastery Advantage and Video on Demand (VOD) formats.

Remember, the best way to maintain a safe workplace is to be aware of risks, and follow safe work practices; comprehensive training is the best way to obey these notions.