Got Dust? Get a Dust Hazards Analysis.
Got dust in your process? Then NFPA 652 applies to you, and you'll need to have a Dust Hazards Analysis (DHA) done.
"NFPA 652 asks operators of facilities to identify combustion hazards involving dusts and powders and then implement needed protective measures and safeguards by October 2018," according to Mark Yukich from Fauske & Associates.
Mark has summed up pointers for get oriented. Read his article from this summer's Process Safety News by clicking here.
A DHA is not the same as a more involved Process Hazards Analysis - but will involve further work if your initial results come back positive. Consider the DHA to be Step One, and NFPA 652 a "single source of information on the fundamental of safe handling of combustible dust."
The Donaldson Torit website has been updated with a new combustible dust interactive web graphic. This great tool highlights all the products that Dawson-Macdonald and Donaldson can coordinate to meet combustible dust needs. http://www2.donaldson.com/torit/en-us/pages/technicalinformation/combustibledustarticle.aspx
OSHA just released a new factsheet titled “Protecting Workers from Combustible Dust Explosion Hazards.” The factsheet discusses controlling the fuel (dust) through capture, contain, and clean. It also states employers are responsible for knowing if dusts are explosible. https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3878.pdf
The 2017 editions of NFPA 61 and NFPA 654 were released in June 2016. These versions are updated to align with NFPA 652.
