These staggering figures have understandably brought heightened attention to the need to mitigate dust accumulation that may lead to explosions. OSHA convened a meeting in Washington, DC in December of 2009 to seek input on the approach for the agency’s approach to develop Federal standards for combustible dust. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has numerous standards in place addressing combustible dust:

  • NFPA 654, Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids
  • NFPA 664, Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities
  • NFPA 61, Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Agricultural and Food Processing Facilities
  • NFPA 484, Standard for Combustible Metals
  • NFPA 655, Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosion

Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration