Crucial elements to include in a combustible dust hazard analysis

Although the NFPA 652 deadline to complete a Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA) has been moved to October of 2020 because of the limited supply of qualified auditors, you should not delay getting started. Your people and facility may be at high risk now, and the NFPA standards states, "The owner/operator shall demonstrate reasonable progress in each of the 5 years." Dust collection systems are one of the most critical elements to be included in a dust hazard analysis because they are a leading cause of combustible dust incidents. According to FM Global statistics, more than half of all dust explosions originate in the dust collector. An unprotected dust collector can reach high pressures that can fragment the housing and send a pressure wave, heat, flames, and dangerous projectiles into the workplace.