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OSHA Needs Input on Combustible Dust Worker Hazards

OSHA Needs Input on Combustible Dust  Worker Hazards
OSHA is going to conduct the first-ever stakeholder meeting on June 28, 2010, for the sake of getting more inputs on combustible dust workplace hazards for the safety and the health of the workers. The meeting format is going to provide quick and easy access to a broader audience including all kind of businesses who would otherwise not be able to participate. They need comments from all concerned, which in turn will help the agency develop a proposed standard on combustible dust.

It is not a new thing for workers who are exposed to combustible dust to face problems at the workplace. According to OSHA more than 130 workers have been killed and 780 injured in combustible dust explosions since 1980. This is the fourth meeting addressing combustible dust hazards.

David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, has said, "OSHA is committed to expanding the opportunity for the public to engage in its rule making activities, and this virtual stakeholder meeting will provide a wide range of stakeholders with the opportunity to participate. This is an important rule making, and we want to ensure that all interested stakeholders have an opportunity to send us their comments and suggestions."

Combustible dust can cause life threatening problems as it mainly consists of fine particles, chips, fibers, chunks or flakes. All these elements, under certain conditions, can cause fire or explosions when suspended in air. Moreover, combustible dust includes metal (aluminum and magnesium), wood, plastic, rubber, coal, flour, sugar and paper, among others. So, the chances of meeting with horrible accidents are more in this field. But, if little care is taken and the mandatory OSHA rules for combustible dust is maintained, then it is sure that the unexpected will vanish or reduce to a considerable limit.

This is an opportunity that you should not lose and should register with in order to participate. OSHA has contributed a lot for the safety of the workers at combustible dust sites. They have made many rules for it and also offer OSHA safety training to the workers to limit this problems.

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