Frank Risk Solutions, Inc.

Why Conduct a Combustible Dust Hazard Analysis?

Each year, industry experiences dozens of fires and explosions involving combustible dusts.  These events can result in serious personnel injuries, even deaths, as well as significant property damage and business interruption costs.

Facilities manufacturing, using, or handling combustible dusts, or materials that can produce combustible dusts, must identify and evaluate the hazards associates with these materials.  This evaluation, or DHA, if properly conducted helps identify engineering and administrative controls that can help prevent catastrophic dust-related process incidents.

NFPA 652, Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust, requires that facilities falling under the scope of NFPA 652, or one of the related NFPA combustible dust standards, complete a DHA by September 7, 2020.  The DHA must be updated every five years.

For additional information, contact Walt Frank at 302-521-7588 or wlf@frankrisk.com.

We Can Help You Conduct Your DHA

Walt Frank, of Frank Risk Solutions, has over 30 years' experience in consulting on combustible dust safety issues.  As a member of several National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) committees, he has helped write relevant NFPA guidance on combustible dust safety. Recent publications and related communications include:

• Guidelines for Combustible Dust Hazard Analysis, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 2017, Center for Chemical Process Safety (Staff Consultant)

• NFPA® Guide to Combustible Dusts, 2012 (Co-author)

• Methods in Chemical Process Safety – Volume 3: Dust Explosions, July 2019 (Contributing author)

• Hazard Identification And Evaluation Through Dust Hazard Analysis,  Dust Safety Science Podcast