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OSHA's Housekeeping Rule Requirements.

OSHA has implemented a major enforcement initiative by developing a comprehensive National Emphasis Program (NEP) for Combustible Dust that took effect on October 18, 2007. The NEP is based on OSHA's expertise and experience in identifying and mitigating combustible dust hazards, as well as a regional Special Emphasis Program (SEP) on combustible dust implemented in 2004. It focuses on workplaces where combustible dust hazards are likely to be found and lists the different types of materials that can lead to combustible dust. Industries covered by the NEP include agriculture, food processing (including sugar), chemicals, textiles, forest products, metal processing, tire and rubber manufacturing, paper products, pharmaceuticals, recycling operations and coal handling and processing facilities. These industries deal with a wide range of combustible dusts with differing properties including metal dusts such as aluminum and magnesium, wood dust, coal and carbon dust, plastic dusts, bio solids, certain textile materials and organic dusts such as paper, pollen, soap, and sugar.

In particular, while visiting your facility ATL Service Solutions inspectors are looking for existing dust accumulations and sources of ignition, which are basic ingredients of a combustible dust explosion. We mitigate any secondary source ignitions for our clients facilities and ensure a safer working environment.

OSHA's Housekeeping Rule Requirements.

Requirements that apply to hazardous surface dust accumulations (i.e., dust accumulations outside the dust collection system or other containers.) For example, dust accumulations exceeding 1/32- inch covering an area of at least 5% of the total area of the room with an upper limit of 1000 square feet and determined by laboratory analysis to be combustible are subject to OSHA's housekeeping standard.

ATL Service Solutions goes thru every foot of your facilities location providing expertise and experience in identifying and mitigating combustible dust hazards, total abatement and mitigation of all of dust and debris that can harm equipment and expensive machinery.

OSHA'S NFPA 654 Standard Requirements.

Updates on Compliance to New OSHA Standards for Combustible Dust/Lint New Federal Regulations Enforced 2008 was a big year for establishing new federal standards on tolerance of combustible dust. The new legislation demands all facilities to take note - and to take action immediately. Here is the news that impacts your operations:

The House of Representatives passed bill H.R. 5522, which requires OSHA to enforce a new standard on combustible dust. This legislation includes ALL plants that produce combustible dust. The new standards for compliance are outlined in NFPA654, which identifies the acceptable levels of dust and lint.

OSHA issued directive CPL03-00-008 “Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program”, which states that OSHA offices are now mandated to conduct investigations of all plants that produce some type of combustible dust. This impacts the operations of all plants in the U.S. As with bill H.R. 5522, this directive specifically references NFPA 654 as the standard to apply for acceptable housekeeping and dust levels. .

OSHA'S NFPA 654 Standard Requirements.

The NFPA 654 Standard NFPA 654 requires “Regular cleaning frequencies for ducts, pipes, hoods, beams and other horizontal surfaces.” It continues by stating, “Surfaces shall be cleaned in a manner that minimizes dust clouds.”
This means that before compressed air can be used for blow down the plant personnel must “…vacuum all surfaces prior to blow down.
Dust layers 1/32in. thick can be sufficient to warrant immediate cleaning of the area….” This new tolerance level is significantly thin – basically, it’s the thickness of a paper clip.
Many industrial plants can easily accumulate this level of dust in a week’s time or less. Plant owners andmanagers have to be diligent to avoid OSHA fines for noncompliance.

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