Introduction to Combustible Dust Hazards and Mitigation for IHs Webinar Recording

Event Type: Webinars, AIHA Webinars

Earn 2 Contact Hours




Combustible dust deflagrations are a process safety hazard not normally covered in Industrial Hygienist training. However, because OSHA is conducting Combustible Dust Inspections under its National Emphasis Program, Industrial Hygienists will likely be involved in inspections, follow-up, or preparation to understand the potential hazards at their workplaces.

This two-hour webinar will introduce the participant to the conditions necessary for a combustible dust deflagration, describe the standard laboratory tests that define the hazard level, and review the common risk mitigation equipment and procedures used to minimize the risk of deflagrations. Videos will aid the participant in understanding the hazards and some of the equipment used to mitigate those hazards. It will also provide an overview of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards referenced in the OSHA National Emphasis Program.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion, participants will be able to:

  • List the conditions necessary for both dust deflagrations and flash fires
  • Discuss the relative hazards of combustible dust from laboratory test results
  • Identify common ignition hazards in a workplace and mitigation strategies
  • Outline the common failings of dust collection systems in preventing fugitive dust accumulations
  • Analyze the potential for a dust deflagration in process equipment and outline the generally available protective equipment to minimize or prevent the effects of a dust deflagration
  • Describe the procedures that need to be in place to support the protective equipment intended to minimize the dust deflagration hazard.

Presenter

Gary Johnson, P.E., helps clients find equipment and procedural solutions for workplace exposures. Gary has a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from Ohio State University and an MBA from the University of Scranton. Working as an Industrial Ventilation and a Combustible Dust consultant for the last 11+ years, since leaving a 27-year Health, Safety, & Environment career at Procter & Gamble, he has helped clients in process industries such as paper, pharmaceuticals, bar soap, plastics compounding, plastic film, wood products, metal fabrication, foods and flavorings, combustible metal dust, powder coating, and paint and coatings industries. He has also been active in technical training and as a member of technical committees.

He routinely presents Professional Development courses for the AIHce and local AIHA sections, webinars for Powder & Bulk Engineering Magazine, and teaches industrial ventilation courses for the North Carolina Industrial Ventilation Conference. He is also a regular speaker at the Powder and Bulk Solids conferences and OSHA Training Institute.

Gary has published articles in several trade and technical publications. He recently joined the new ANSI/Z9.12 sub-committee writing a new national standard – “Combustible Dust Collection Systems”- describing design and maintenance requirements for dust collection systems extracting combustible dusts.​

Questions? Contact [email protected].