Industrial Fire Prevention

OSHA Law Update From Epstein Becker Green, OSHA Law Update blog. Posted on October 31st, 2012 by Eric J. Conn Update to OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program By Eric J. Conn , Head of the OSHA Practice Group Back in September, we posted an article critiquing OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program (“SVEP”) in general, and the newly announced “exit criteria” in particular.  Since that time, in the beginning of October, OSHA updated its embarrassing SVEP Log that it maintains for public consumption on the OSHA website.  With the new data included on the SVEP Log, we thought this would be a good time to provide an update about the SVEP, including: The types of employers and industries that OSHA is most frequently qualifying for the program; The OSHA Regions that are most active in the SVEP; The pace at which new employers are added to the program; and Other usef...

From Pharmaceutical Processing and PharmPro.com, a good article on combustible dust explosion mitigation in the pharmaceutical industries by Dr. Vahid Ebadat. Dust Explosion Hazards in Pharmaceutical Facilities By Vahid Ebadat, Ph.D., Chilworth Technology, Inc.  Wednesday, October 24, 2012 Many of the solid ingredients, or excipients, used in the formulation of pharmaceutical oral solid dosage (OSD) forms have been shown to be combustible. As a result, operations typically found in this type of facility have the potential to generate explosible dust cloud atmospheres. Recognized explosion, or deflagration hazards will necessarily influence process equipment specifications, design of air handling and conditioning systems, electrical area classification, and room construction in order to achieve applicable code compliance. It is therefore necessary for OSD manufacturers to clearly understand the explosion hazards presented by the materials utilized in their proces...

From Plantservices.com a good article on state of the art in dust collection. Dust collection systems get smaller, greener and safer How to clean up with economic and safety benefits. By J. Stanton McGroarty, CMfgE, CMRP, senior technical editor Government agencies in the United States have played a significant part in the dissemination of dust collection equipment. “In terms of air quality, OSHA wants clean air inside for the employees, and EPA wants clean air outside for the public,” says Patrick Ostrenga, a retired 34-year veteran of OSHA and founder of Occupational Safety and Health Auditing, Compliance Assistance Services (www.oshacas.com) . An important safety issue driving dust collection is the danger of fire and explosion from some kinds of dust. “I’ve studied several dust explosions due to combustible dust ,” says Ostrenga. “Cornstarch was one that blew in a candy plant. Until the demolition of the old Schlitz/Pillsbury elevator in the late 1990s, none of th...

NFPA Guide to Combustible Dusts, 2012 Edition NFPA Guide to Combustible Dusts The NFPA has been extremely active on combustible dust recently. NFPA 61 and 654 have been revised and will be reissued in the next two weeks, and I just found this 300+ page guide they released that appears to be very comprehensive. NFPA® Guide to Combustible Dusts, 2012 Edition nfpa.org Get the industry's first and only guide to dust hazards. Order the all-new 2012 NFPA Guide to Combustible Dust today! Authors: Walter L. Frank, P.E. and Samuel A. Rodgers, P.E. Be proactive with the industry's first and only guide to dust hazards, the NFPA® Guide to Combustible Dusts. Any dust event could have a devastating effect on your workers, your company, and your community -- and there are significant fines for the presence of dust hazards in any facility. Address dust safety hazards effectively with the NFPA Guide to Combustible Dusts, the vital new resource for everyone who d...