A major risk for any industrial workplace, is the rapid combustion of fine particles in the air. Dust explosions occur anywhere that there is enough dispersed combustible material in the air. They are particularly dangerous in confined spaces where the explosive power, under extremely high pressure, can cause flying shrapnel, which is a danger to both employees and equipment.
For industrial workplaces, dust explosion testing is an absolute imperative.
Dust Explosion Risks – Why Dust Explosion Material Testing is Important
Dust explosion testing presents a unique challenge for safety engineers. In order to test the samples properly, they must be grounded and sifted in order to normalize. In addition to controlling for the size, the sample must also be brought to a specified humidity level. For example, grain particles are generally very large items, but during transport, they rub against one another, become compressed or crushed, and break down into very small dust particles.
Another key consideration for safety engineers is time of year. The majority of dust explosions happen in February when the air is driest. The humidity level in February is much lower than it is in July, so a sample must be targeted for the worst possible condition.
Explosion hazard testing must consider these hazards in worst-case-scenario situations.
How SAFE Engineering Assesses Dust Explosion Risks
SAFE Engineering will not take any chances when assessing the dust explosion risk in your workplace. The best way to assess the risk of combustible dust, is by combustible dust testing it under less than ideal conditions. That means testing the finest possible dust at the driest fraction, in accordance with ASTM Standards that describe the appropriate dust explosivity testing methods.
This process will ensure that your workplace is safe. By testing under worst-case conditions, we can mitigate the risk for dust explosions in your workplace. SAFE Engineering takes your workplace safety seriously and insists on accepting results as specified by ASTM standards.
Many industrial workplaces have hidden dangers that can change based on the amount of humidity in the air, and a myriad of other factors, which is why it’s so important to have experts who understand the complexities of testing for dust explosions. SAFE Engineering will ensure you have a safe and healthy workplace with dust hazard analysis in Canada.