What is the potential risk?

Workplaces that use dust collectors to control combustible dust are at risk of a fire or explosion within the dust collector. Factors relating to the dust collector itself can increase the risk of a combustible dust fire or explosion. These factors may include improper design, installation, and maintenance procedures. A combustible dust fire or explosion within a dust collector can result in worker injury or death.

Dust collectors are devices used to separate particulate material from an air stream in a dust collection system. They are considered confined spaces, and are at risk of a combustible dust fire or explosion if there is sufficient concentration of combustible dust to form a dust cloud as well as a potential ignition source in close proximity. If there are additional accumulations of combustible dust throughout the facility, a dust collector fire or explosion may serve as a source of ignition for a secondary dust explosion. Due to the risk of explosion and fire, dust collectors are best located in a safe location outside the workplace.

There have been incidents in B.C. of fires and explosions in dust collectors that have resulted in worker injuries.

Workers at risk may include those in facilities using a dust collector for combustible dust.

Examples of combustible dust include wood, metal, grain, cereal, coal, plastic, pharmaceutical, and chemical dusts.

What industries may be at risk?

• Food and beverage product manufacturing
• Metal product manufacturing
• Petroleum, coal, rubber, plastic, and chemical product manufacturing
• Wood and paper product manufacturing

How can I reduce the risk in my workplace?

As an employer, you need to know if there is the potential for the risk identified in this advisory to be present in your workplace. It’s your responsibility to regularly inspect your workplace, and to ensure that your safety procedures and practices control the risk. The following information highlights some of the sections of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation and Guidelines that are most relevant to this risk.

The OHS Regulation requires that if an operation or work process produces a combustible or flammable air contaminant in concentrations that may present a risk of fire or explosion, the employer must provide a separate exhaust ventilation system for the operation or work process.

In addition, a dust collector that has an internal volume greater than 0.6 m3 (20 ft3) and is being used to control combustible dusts must be located and constructed so that no worker will be endangered in the event of an explosion inside the collector.

The BC Fire Code also places specific duties on employers with regard to the control of accumulation of combustible dust in the workplace as well as the operation and location of dust collectors in the workplace.

Where can I find resources?

You can access the following resources on worksafebc.com:

• OHS Guideline 5.71(3): Location and construction of dust collectors
• WorkSafeBC webpage: Combustible dust