OSHA initiated a Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program on October 18, 2007. This Directive is prefaced by an Executive Summary, part of which follows here. (Go to www.osha.gov/index.html and enter “CPL 03-00-006” in the search window for the full text.)
OSHA is initiating this National Emphasis Program (NEP) to address the deflagration, other fire, and explosion hazards that may exist at facilities handling combustible dust. A combustible dust hazard study conducted by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) found that nearly 280 dust fires and explosions have occurred in U.S. industrial facilities over the past 25 years, resulting in 119 fatalities and over 700 injuries.