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Plant safety is not rocket science
US
The anger and frustration of an up till now passive audience, is now becoming undone. In a statement made surrounding the disasters that plague the plant industry, a retired university of Michigan professor of aeronautical engineering said, "The science of explosion control is pretty simple. It's not rocket science,"
As we report regularly here at Explosion Hazards, combustible dust accidents are as prevalent as ever particularly in the United States. Bill Kauffman continued that, "If you can see your footprint or can write your name on the wall, it's going to explode". Despite over a decade of studies on the dangers of dust composition, stricter regulations appear to be lacking.
You may remember a report we did on the Hoeganaes plant explosion back in January. Due to their being no implemented rules regarding the prevention of dust explosions, Hoeganaes was fined but still continues to operate to the exasperation of some of the families who lost loved ones.
Figures compiled by the CSB drew on some pressing concerns. A 2006 study reported there were at least 281 dust explosions in the U.S. between 1980 and 2005 that killed 119 workers and injured 718. In 2007, it recommended that the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) create workplace rules to control dust and cut down on explosions. The CSB is charged with investigating industrial accidents, but it must rely on regulatory agencies like OSHA to effect change from its findings.
Of the 23 dust samples gathered from the Gallatin facility last year, 14 were found to be combustible.
Assistant Labor Secretary Jordan Barab spoke on the issue and the task the CSB and OSHA had on their hands. He concluded that, "It is going slower than we would have liked, but it's a very big issue. There are a lot of different industries dealing with a lot of different dusts."
In the mean time if plant explosions continue on their current form, many more families will experience loss and anger and our reports on Explosion Hazards will continue too.
