Lion's office will be closed at 3:30 PM ET on Friday, May 23 and all day on Monday, May 26. Online training support is available from 8:30 AM to 5 PM ET. Contact support@lion.com.
Search

OSHA Memo: New Combustible Dust Hazard Classification

Posted on 1/6/2014 by Roger Marks

On December 27th, 2013, OSHA distributed an internal memo to its compliance officers intended to clarify the Administration’s standards regarding combustible dusts. 
 
 
What Is Combustible Dust? 
 
When OSHA amended the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to align with the Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), the Agency amended the definition of “hazardous chemical” to include “combustible dust,” a hazard that the international GHS does not address.
 
Combustible dust is commonly accepted to be a type of atmospheric hazard made up of fine grains of solid material that are capable of catching fire or exploding. However, OSHA did not define the term “combustible dust” in its revised Standard. As an interim measure, the Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program (NEP) includes an “operative definition.” There are also several voluntary consensus standards (ASTM, NFPA, etc.) for assessing combustible dust hazards by simulated testing or measuring particle size.
 
 
Recognizing Combustible Dust Hazards 
 
The guidance memo is intended to help compliance officers determine whether manufacturers/importers of chemical products have properly classified combustible dust hazards. The memo is not meant to apply to inspections of end-users of combustible dusts.
 
The memo directs compliance officers to rely on the existing consensus standards, related laboratory tests, and actual experience when enforcing the HCS.
 
According to the memo, the hierarchy for determining whether a chemical product has a combustible dust hazard is:
 
  1. There is evidence that the product has been involved in a dust explosion event.
  2. When test data is available from a recognized consensus standard test, classify the product in accordance with that data.
  3. In the absence of test data, rely on published data for similar materials or classify based on the particle size of the product.
 
Transitioning to the Revised HCS
 
The deadline to update employees’ hazard communication training to inform them of new hazard classifications, labels, and Safety Data Sheets was December 1, 2013. As new criteria are phased in over the next few years, employee understanding is critical to workplace safety at facilities where hazardous chemicals are handled. To help employers understand the revised HCS and prepare their employees, Lion Technology offers the Managing Hazard Communication Online Course for site or EHS managers and the Hazard Communication Online Course for employees.
 

Tags: GHS, HazCom, osha

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

The course was very well structured and covered the material in a clear, concise manner.

Ian Martinez

Hazmat Shipping Professional

My experience with Lion classes has always been good. Lion Technology always covers the EPA requirements I must follow.

Steven Erlandson

Environmental Coordinator

The course is well thought out and organized in a way that leads to a clearer understanding of the total training.

David Baily

Hazmat Shipping Professional

Energetic/enthusiastic! Made training enjoyable, understandable and fun!

Amanda Walsh

Hazardous Waste Professional

I really enjoyed this training. Even after years on both sides of the comprehension coin, I find myself still learning! The quality of the delivery exceeded much of the training I have received in the past.

Neil Ozonur

Safety Officer

Having the tutorial buttons for additional information was extremely beneficial.

Sharon Ziemek

EHS Manager

Excellent. I learned more in two days with Lion than at a 5-day program I took with another provider.

Francisco Gallardo

HES Technician

I think LION does an excellent job of any training they do. Materials provided are very useful to my day-to-day work activities.

Pamela Embody

EHS Specialist

I love that the instructor emphasized the thought process behind the regs.

Rebecca Saxena

Corporate Product Stewardship Specialist

The instructor was very dedicated to providing a quality experience. She did her best to make sure students were really comprehending the information.

Stephanie Venn

Inventory Control Specialist

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Tips to identify and manage universal waste under more-stringent state regulations for generators and universal waste handlers in California.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.