Understanding the first steps when dealing combustible dust is essential to properly adhering to NFPA 652. View the video here, to understand The First Steps to Comply with NFPA 652.
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NFPA 652 serves as the unifying standard for managing combustible dust fire and explosion hazards across industries, processes and dust types. As a responsible manufacturer – you know about it. You’ve read it. But now what? How do you put NFPA 652 into practice at your facility? It all starts with knowing your dust. Once you know your risk for combustible dust incidents, you can set the proper procedures and select the proper equipment to comply with the regulations and keep your facility safe. If you’re not sure if your dust is combustible, you’re not alone. But you need to find out. It is your responsibility to have the dust at your facility tested….even if you’ve never had an incident. If your dust is common – like flour, sugar, etc. – and the particle size and moisture content are the same – you can use documented historical data from other tests. That dust test must be kept on file at your facility. If tests show that your dust is not combustible – and you have the documentation to prove it – you can proceed with operations as normal. Of course, in compliance with all other OSHA recommended standards for workplace safety. If tests show that your dust is combustible, you must then complete a Dust Hazard Analysis – DHA. This is a review of your facility and your processes so that you can determine potential risks and create a plan to prevent or remove those risks. Your DHA should group all locations in your facility into three general categories:- Not a hazard
- Maybe a hazard
- Deflagration hazard
