A combustible dust fire is a fire caused by any fine material that has the potential to catch fire or explode when it is mixed with air. These materials are not usually combustible under normal circumstances, but due to their small size and concentration they can become explosive or burn.
What happened at the Imperial Sugar Company in 2008?
On February 7, 2008, a huge explosion and fire occurred at the Imperial Sugar refinery northwest of Savannah, Georgia, causing 14 deaths and injuring 38 others, including 14 with serious and life-threatening burns.
How many were dead in the Imperial Sugar dust explosion?
14
On February 7, 2008, at about 7:15 p.m., a series of sugar dust explosions at the Imperial Sugar manufacturing facility in Port Wentworth, Georgia, resulted in 14 worker fatalities.
Why did the sugar refinery explode?
Savannah, Georgia, September 24, 2009 – In a final draft report released today, CSB investigators said the February 7, 2008, explosion at the Imperial Sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia, resulted from ongoing releases of sugar from inadequately designed and maintained dust collection equipment, conveyors, and …
Why is dust flammable?
Dusts have a very large surface area compared to their mass. Since burning can only occur at the surface of a solid or liquid, where it can react with oxygen, this causes dusts to be much more flammable than bulk materials.
Is dust a fire hazard?
If you don’t make an effort to regularly dust your home you could be creating a fire hazard. “Dust can ignite quickly and spread throughout your home if your heaters or electrical sockets cause a spark,” says Dirocco.
Is Imperial Sugar still in business?
The company was established in 1843 and has undergone ownership changes multiple times. The current name, Imperial Sugar Company, was established after a change in ownership in 1907….Imperial Sugar.
| Type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Total assets | US$490,000,000 (2011) |
| Parent | Louis Dreyfus |
| Website |
What would have prevented the sugar explosion at the Imperial Sugar refinery?
Last year’s deadly explosion at the Imperial Sugar Port Wentworth refinery fuelled by a build up of sugar dust in the packing plant was “entirely preventable” said the US Chemical Safety Board.
How explosive is grain dust?
Explosive Limits for Grain Dust and Grain Flour Products explosions is about 0.05 ounces per cubic foot of volume. They say that the optimum explosive concentration (OEC) is about 0.5 to 1.0 ounces per cubic foot – about 10 times the MEC (Gillis, 1985, p. 43).
How do you prevent sugar dust explosions?
Sugar Dust Explosion Prevention & Protection
- Implement appropriately rated rotary air locks.
- Implement appropriately designed screw conveyors.
- Implement mechanical isolation barriers.
- Implement chemical isolation barriers (particularly well suited to large and irregular ducting)
Is dust flammable or combustible?
Any combustible material can burn rapidly when in a finely divided form. If such a dust is suspended in air in the right concentration, under certain conditions, it can become explosible.
What happens if you burn dust?
In a dust explosion, the deflagration processes happens so rapidly that the heated air and gaseous fire products (such as carbon dioxide) produce extreme air pressure that can blow out walls and destroy structures.
How do I develop a combustible dust Safety Program?
Develop a combustible dust safety program using good practice guidelines, such as NFPA 654, Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids. At a minimum: Minimize surfaces where combustible dust could accumulate in the design or modification of the plant.
What happens when there’s combustible dust?
And, where there’s combustible dust, there’s the possibility of an explosion that can result in serious damage to your facility, your personnel, and, ultimately, your business. To illustrate the pervasiveness of this hazard, we’ve rounded up descriptions of combustible dust incidents from 15 different industries.
Can combustible dust fires and explosions be prevented?
As you peruse the examples below, keep in mind that combustible dust fires and explosions are 100% preventable through proper controls and housekeeping. OSHA cited Powderpart Inc. for one willful and nine serious violations of workplace safety standards following a 2013 explosion that caused third-degree burns on an employee.
What is co2coal dust and why is it dangerous?
Coal dust is a combustible dust that can easily explode when all the elements that cause fire are present. Dust explosion, static electricity, spontaneous combustion, and high-temperature materials passing through the filters can cause fire or explosion.
