Dust Health and Safety Hazards – What You Need to Know
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SML consultant writes new safety guidelines to protect against fires and explosions
A paper on safety guidelines related to fire and explosion risk, written by Senior SML Consultant Steve Pope and co-authored by Mike Fletcher, SML’s Managing Director, has recently been published by the Agricultural Industries Confederation.
Titled ‘Control of Fire and Explosion Risks in Animal Feed Manufacturing Plants and Processes’, the document was written to assist the operators and designers of animal feed manufacturing plants and processes in preventing fires and explosions and to comply with legal duties under the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulation 2002 (DSEAR). As a guide, it is suitable for both existing and new plant designs and modifications.
“Catastrophic fires and explosions in the UK feed industry are, fortunately, rare,” says Steve Pope. “However, they can and do still occur. In the last few years we’ve seen a number of disastrous cases internationally that have resulted in multiple fatalities and severe injuries. Good standards and diligence are the foremost protection we have to ensure that such events do not occur in the UK.”
Across the world there are recent examples of very significant dust explosions in the grain and milling industry. Examples include;
- 11 people killed when 28 concrete grain silos were destroyed at Blaye in France in 1998
- one person killed and 5 injured as well as extensive damage caused to a feed mill at Rockmart USA in 2016
- five killed and 12 seriously injured at the Didion Plant in Wisconsin in 2017
In addition to background and context on how explosions and fires can occur, the report outlines actionable guidelines that plants can incorporate to ensure safety remains paramount and all protections are robust and effective.
To keep your manufacturing staff and site safe and learn more about safety guidelines related to fire and explosion risk, contact us to arrange a DSEAR Risk Assessment.
Tilbury Port Explosion Photo sourced from @AislinnCL on Twitter
