OSHA to Address Combustible Dust Workplace Hazards

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced a series of stakeholder meetings intended to address the “views, concerns, and issues surrounding the hazards of combustible dust,” which may be formed in agricultural and grain-handling workplaces and factories that manufacture food, animal food, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals. For the February 17, 2010, meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, OSHA is soliciting feedback on (i) possible regulatory approaches to handling the hazards of combustible dust; (ii) the scope of any rulemaking; (iii) the organization of a prospective standard; (iv) the role of consensus standards; and (v) consequent economic impacts. OSHA held a similar meeting December 14, 2009, and additional meetings are planned for 2010.

The agency previously published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking that requested comments, including data and other information, on issues related to the hazards of combustible dust in the workplace. According to OSHA, “Materials that may form combustible dust include, but are not limited to, wood, coal, plastics, biosolids, candy, sugar, spice, starch, flour, feed, grain, fertilizer, tobacco, paper, soap, rubber, drugs, dried blood, dyes, certain textiles, and metals (such as aluminum and magnesium).” See Federal Register, January 25, 2010.