Combustible Dust Housekeeping: Podcast Professional Cleaning
Published: 24 September, 2009
John considers the importance of housekeeping - namely, making sure you keep facilities clean and free from dust build up in minimizing the probability and reducing the severity of combustible dust related fires and explosions
Combustible dust in the industrial setting is a constant threat in providing a fuel source for a potential combustible dust flash fires or catastrophic secondary dust explosions. Yet this aspect of the fire triangle is the most difficult to control since particle abrasion and material breakdown of combustible particulate solids from raw products is an inherent aspect of the process. The sieving, grinding, pouring, micronizing, and pneumatic conveying constantly generates combustible dust throughout the workday. Unless a proactive housekeeping program is implemented at the facility, then the heightened threat of a combustible dust related fire or explosion is omnipresent. It’s not a question of; if, but when a deflagration will occur. Has your high beam areas up above and out of sight been recently cleaned? What about the ductwork where combustible dust has accumulated over a period of time.
In 2008, according to media accounts, over 80% of combustible dust related fires in the USA occurred in the manufacturing, non manufacturing, and utility sectors. Surprisingly a majority of these incidents did not occur on the shop floor but in the process equipment. Such as the ductwork, dryers, dust collectors, etc. Best engineering practices utilizing spark detection and flame suppression would have minimized the probability and severity of many incidents. Yet administrative controls consisting of regular scheduled cleaning of the interior of process equipment would provide additional layers of protection. Once the fuel is removed there can be not fire or explosion. So a dilemma arises amongst plant managers and owners in what is the best plan of attack in efficiently and cost effectively removing the fuel hazard of combustible dust.
Immediately the first solution that would come to mind is to use utilize plant personnel for the important task in risk reduction. Maybe in at a small facility this is possible, but is it feasible reallocating resources from production to time consuming cleaning duties. No doubt about it, the cleaning of the combustible dust must be done as soon as possible. Another factor to take into consideration is the special equipment such as scissors lifts, explosion proof vacuum cleaners, and the donning of flame resistant clothing (FRC) in addition to combustible dust hazard awareness training for all personnel involved in the task.
An alternate solution would be to hire an outside professional cleaning contractor that has many years of experience in cleaning industrial facilities. I recently had the pleasure and opportunity to talk with a professional cleaning contractor, Mr. Jon Barrett, Business Development Specialist from Interior Maintenance Company, located in the outskirts of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Subjects that came up in the discussion in which I’ll share in a podcast with all the global visitors are: fire/explosion hazards, areas of concern requiring cleaning, certification/training, precautionary measures prior to cleaning, PPE, the cleaning process, and hiring a cleaning service. Hopefully the audience will obtain a better idea of what combustible dust cleaning is all about from the 30,000 ft view and have more questions after listening to the podcast than they had prior to listening in.
Click here to listen to the podcast.
The most striking aspect I learned was not during the interview but afterwards. This is the part that always gets me in trouble during my research on combustible dust hazards, turning up stones looking for more answers. Certification and training with all the credentials is a powerful marketing tool amongst a multitude of professionals. It demonstrates that the organization has the skills, knowledge, and experience to effectively complete the task in an efficient and professional manner. 
Not to point any fingers at the several trade organizations that offer certification and training for professional maintenance and cleaning services, I inquired if they provided training in identifying and evaluating combustible dust hazards. Surprisingly none of the maintenance and cleaning organizations/associations that I talked too offered such combustible dust hazard awareness training. This is very troublesome since it is quite possible to initiate a deflagration during the housekeeping and cleaning process. Maybe this is not big deal, I’ve yet to hear of a combustible dust related fire or explosion occurring during the cleaning process undertaken by a professional cleaning crew.
Not to be promoting one company over the other in my posts, only the facts. I was very impressed in how Jon’s company, Interior Maintenance Company, had gone to such extreme effort in obtaining combustible dust hazard training with the excellent Chilworth Technology and National Fire Protection Association combustible dust educational programs. The point I’d like to get across is when hiring a professional cleaning service, is to inquire whether personnel have been trained in combustible dust hazard awareness. Such training provides workers with vital information on electrostatic discharge, ignition sensitivity, electrical hazardous (classified) locations, importance of FRC’s, explosion severity, etc. Solely relying on a material safety data sheet in obtaining this information is inadequate in a majority of instances. Hope the podcast helps. If you have any ideas for topics in future podcasts or would like to be a guest please contact me.
Contact Info: John AstadDirector/Research Analyst
Combustible Dust Policy Institute
Office: 409-440-7185
john@combustibledust.com
Resources:
Interior Maintenance Company
Chilworth Technology
National Fire Protection Association
National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA)
