Page 38 - OHS, September 2023

COMBUSTIBLE DUST Combustible Dust in Industrial and Manufacturing Settings Expert Mark Ramos joins OH&S to delve into the unseen challenges and solutions when it comes to managing combustible dust in industrial and manufacturing facilities. BY DAVID KOPF Throughout nearly every industrial or manufacturing facility lies a silent yet potent adversary: combustible dust. Often overlooked, combustible dust has the potential to wreak havoc. For safety managers, the challenges of managing and mitigating these threats can be daunting. A seasoned expert who is no stranger to the challenges and intricacies of managing combustible dust in industrial- manufacturing settings is Mark Ramos, the Business Development Manager IVACS, Western Region, for Nilfisk, a global manufacturer of professional cleaning equipment, including systems for collecting combustible dust. Ramos has dedicated his work at Nilfisk to understanding and addressing the complexities of dust collection and safety. Having joined the company in 2000 as a district sales manager for the Pacific Northwest, Ramos’s responsibilities grew over time, are processes and equipment that can address these issues. That’s an ongoing challenge we face in the field. leading him to oversee territories spanning from the U.S. states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska to the western provinces of Canada. OH&S: Are there certain types of manufacturing or industrial settings that are more prone to combustible dust than others? His work in dust collection and safety took on even more importance in 2008, when the fatal explosion at the Imperial Ramos: Under the right circumstances, I wouldn’t say one Sugar Mill in Port Wentworth, Ga. prompted OSHA to heighten industry is more prone to having issues than others. However, there is a KST chart that indicates materials that are more safety regulations surrounding combustible dust. Ramos, having been on the field and in management roles, witnessed combustible than others. firsthand the industry’s response to these regulatory shifts. His But just because something has a lower rating doesn’t mean travels across North America let him to interact with a variety of that there’s less of a risk. It really depends on the variables at hand. Metal dust, being more volatile, means people in related industries, broadening his understanding of the safety concerns industries tend to understand that, and perhaps they’re more surrounding dust. In a conversation with Occupational Health & Safety, Ramos proactive about addressing it. provides insights gleaned from his years in the field, offering a comprehensive view of combustible dust management’s OH&S: You mentioned rafters. Are there other areas of an industrial challenges and solutions in the industrial-manufacturing setting. or manufacturing facility where dust accumulates? Ramos: Well, in and around equipment, as I mentioned earlier, is obvious. The dust that’s on the floor, that’s easily visible. OH&S: What makes the industrial-manufacturing setting unique However, there are other places like I-beams or ventilation system when it comes to combustible dust safety? Ramos: A lot of it is about buildup. In most facilities, it comes pipes located in the upper parts of the plant. You might also find internal office spaces within the facility with roofs, and dust can down to basics. It’s about the programs you have in place to accumulate on top of those. mitigate dust buildup. Do you consistently monitor and remain true to whatever your policy is? I could share some stories from After working in this field for many years, I know where to look and start asking questions like, “Are you aware of this over the years and places I’ve visited. When you walk into a facility accumulation? How do you address it?” My goal is to get people and say, “I’m gonna do a site assessment,” you try to understand what people’s challenges are. thinking about areas they might not have considered before. A lot of people see everything that’s going on at floor level. We can look down and see what’s on the floor, and observe what’s in OH&S: What kind of dust collection systems should be employed in and around equipment. But I tend to look up. If you observe dust the industrial-manufacturing setting? residing in the rafters, that’s the “out of sight, out of mind” dust Ramos: When considering dust collection, you should ensure that exists in many facilities. This indicates there’s probably not a a few key aspects are in place. First, the system chosen should be comprehensive program in place. tailored to address the specific application at hand. This requires So, I think the challenges are to really help people realize an in-depth study to determine where the dust is generated, the composition of the dust, and the most effective way to eliminate what’s going on in the facilities. It’s important to know that there Kemi/Shutterstock.com 38 Occupational Health & Safety | SEPTEMBER 2023 www.ohsonline.com