Combustible Dust: An Explosion Hazard

Standards

The following Federal OSHA standards are mandatory; they include provisions that address certain aspects of combustible dust hazards. Some are industry-wide and others and industry-specific.

OSHA Standards

Highlighted Standards

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)
General Industry (29 CFR 1910)		Related Information
1910 Subpart D - Walking-Working Surfaces		Related Information
1910 Subpart D - Walking-Working Surfaces	1910.22, General requirements.	Related Information
1910 Subpart E - Exit Routes and Emergency Planning
1910 Subpart E - Exit Routes and Emergency Planning	1910.38, Emergency action plans.	Related Information
1910 Subpart G - Occupational Health and Environmental Control
	1910.94, Ventilation.	Related Information
1910 Subpart J - General Environmental Controls
1910 Subpart J - General Environmental Controls	1910.146, Permit-required confined spaces.	Related Information
1910 Subpart L - Fire Protection
	1910.157, Portable fire extinguishers.	Related Information
	1910.165, Employee alarm systems.	Related Information
1910 Subpart N - Materials Handling and Storage
	1910.176, Handling materials - general.	Related Information
	1910.178, Powered Industrial Trucks	Related Information
1910 Subpart R - Special Industries
	1910.261, Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills.	Related Information
	1910.263, Bakery equipment.	Related Information
	1910.265, Sawmills.	Related Information
	1910.269, Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution.	Related Information
	1910.272, Grain handling facilities.	Related Information
1910 Subpart S - Electrical
1910 Subpart S - Electrical	1910.307, Hazardous (classified) locations.	Related Information
1910 Subpart Z - Toxic and Hazardous Substances
1910 Subpart Z - Toxic and Hazardous Substances	1910.1200, Hazard Communication.	Related Information

State Plan Standards

There are 29 OSHA-approved State Plans operating state-wide occupational safety and health programs. State Plans are required to have standards and enforcement programs that are at least as effective as OSHA's and may have different or more stringent requirements.

If a hazard is not addressed by an OSHA standard, Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, often referred to as the General Duty Clause, may apply. This section requires employers to "furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees". This is discussed further in the Consensus Standards section below.