A massive fire and explosion in the dust collection system of a New Hampshire wood pellet manufacturer demonstrates the need for adequate system design to prevent combustible dust explosions in general industry. We recently published a news article on Environmental-Expert.com about OSHA’s enforcement actions concerning last year’s combustible dust fire and explosion at the New ...
A dust accumulation of 1/32 of an inch deep—about the thickness of a dime—covering just five percent of a room’s surface area doesn’t sound like much, but it’s enough to cause a catastrophic explosion, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Although good engineering and safety practices to prevent dust explosions have existed for decades, ...
Paper shredding is growing into a big business. Recycling and the green movement certainly planted the seeds, but regulators have added the fertilizer. Industry-changing laws have been passed to govern document security in accounting, healthcare and banking, and shredders of many varieties are becoming the tools of those trades.Five or six years ago Warde Comeaux knew only a few people who ...
In the wake of recent tragic and highly publicized dust explosions, companies are asking, 'Could that happen here?' and 'What can I do to prevent such an incident at my facility?' One approach is to manage dust explosion hazards as though they were subject to OSHA’s Process Safety Management (PSM) requirements (29 CFR 1910.119), even though dust hazards often are not covered under this ...
ABSTRACTInterest continues to grow in heat drying as a means of processing biosolids into an aesthetically pleasing product form with multiple use opportunities, while also achieving a significant reduction in both volume and weight of biosolids for off-site hauling. As the number of heat drying installations increase, so too do reports of safety incidents—an indication that Owners and facility ...
A commercial auger conveyor is an efficient way to move raw materials from one area to another with little to no spillage. However, screw conveyors can develop or create other problems. Here are some ways to solve some of the more common issues you may encounter. Dust Problems Dust in the atmosphere can be a serious hazard. It can make it difficult for employees to breathe and may lead to ...
Electrical equipment in hazardous (classified) locations present a serious threat for workers due to the existence of explosive dust and vapors. Examples of such facilities range from grain mills and gasoline stations to aircraft hangars and chemical manufacturing plants. To prevent devastating explosions that may occur from the ignition of combustible particles in the atmosphere, the National ...
Overview 3D printing (also known as “additive manufacturing”) affords manufacturers the ability to create custom parts that fit together perfectly. Utilized for decades in the medical products and aerospace parts industries, 3D printing is increasingly being used in other industries as well, including the relatively recent advent of 3D printed metal auto parts. New and Replacement ...
Thanks to new technologies, the 3D printers that have been used to create plastic three-dimensional objects can now print metal. Titanium 3D printing is possible thanks to a technique called DMLS, or Direct Metal Laser Sintering. While the potential to use titanium 3D printing is groundbreaking for many industries, the new advances could pose a health hazard if volatile gases used in the printing ...
Benefits of Explosion Proof Plugs and Cords Hazardous locations, where combustible gases, vapors and dust are present, require explosion proof or intrinsically safe equipment to prevent catastrophic accidents. In addition to explosion proof fixtures, operators must use explosion proof extension cords and plugs for complete protection in the workplace. Advantages of Explosion Proof Cords ...
On February 11, 2015, the Government of Canada published in Gazette II (Vol. 149, no. 3) the final regulation for adopting the Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The final Hazardous Product Regulation (HPR) appears to be nearly identical to the proposed regulation published in Gazette I in August of 2014 (Vol. 148, no. 32) and is closely aligned with ...
The cannabis industry is growing at a rapid rate. According to a report published by Marijuana Business Daily, the emerging sector is forecasted to overtake craft beer and organic food products. With legalization gaining momentum, it could reach $44 billion by 2020. The study also pointed out that for every dollar spent on weed, the local economy gains three dollars. A recent trend in marijuana ...
Exploring Solutions for New 3D Printing Airborne Hazards Additive manufacturing (the industrial version of 3D printing) was front and center at AeroDef 2020, with three days devoted to exploring this technology’s potential to overcome low throughput, geometric restrictions, structural defects, and other aerospace and aviation manufacturing challenges. But for all the 3D buzz, there’s ...
What’s the Risk if I Don’t Have a Fire Mitigation System on my Conveyors?The Short Answer Without fire mitigation on your conveyors, you risk 1) damage to your equipment, 2) damage to buildings, 3) downtime, 4) added insurance expense, 5) canceled insurance, 6) fines due to a failure to meet national fire codes, 7) forced shutdown. The Long Answer Fires and explosions are not ...
A combustible dust explosion is a serious hazard for a wide variety of industries including manufacturing, processing, metalworking, chemicals, and more. This hazard can materialize in many areas of a plant, but is more likely to occur at the dust collection system. Implementing proper explosion venting in your dust collection system can reduce your risk for a hazardous explosion. The first step ...
1. Sterilant chemicals are highly toxic Low temperature and liquid chemical sterilants are designed to kill all microorganisms including resistant spores and if they were not toxic, they would not be effective in sufficiently high concentration to destroy all microbial life including the chemically resistant sporicidal forms of certain bacteria. There are two main classes of sterilant chemical, ...