I’ve been writing for ages now on this blog on the danger combustible dust poses to workers, so it’s heartening to see after eight years of Bush-era neglect that OSHA is moving to establish a combustible dust standard:
The public will have an opportunity to offer its input toward establishing a combustible dust standard aimed at preventing disasters similar to the explosion that killed 14 workers at the Imperial Sugar Co. in February 2008, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said on Oct. 20…
OSHA has been conducting a Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program (NEP) since October 2007. The NEP has resulted in an unusually high number of general duty clause violations, indicating a strong need for a combustible dust standard, according to OSHA.
The general duty clause is not as effective as a comprehensive combustible dust standard would be at protecting workers, OSHA reports.
Since 1980 more than 130 workers have been killed and more than 780 injured in combustible dust explosions, noted acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Jordan Barab.
Our brothers and sisters at the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) agree that this is encouraging:
“This notice is an important first step on the way to a permanent rule to ensure the safety of millions of American workers,” said Jackie Nowell, Director of the UFCW’s Occupational Safety and Health Office. “More than 900 workers have been killed or injured since 1980 because of combustible dust accidents. These are avoidable tragedies that must be stopped.”
The UFCW also urges OSHA to work quickly to issue a tough rule that will protect workers.
“We can’t wait any longer,” said Nowell, “the time for a tough, comprehensive rule on combustible dust is now. We hope that employers, unions, and OSHA can work together to make this badly needed protection a reality.”
The complete text of the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is available online (plain text, PDF); OSHA is accepting public comments on it until January 19, 2010. Comments can be submitted via regulations.gov.
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Actually, if you will check the dates in the articles you site, the OSHA NEP on Combustible dust was started under Bush. The first NEP was released in 2007, then re-released in 2008 after the Imperial Sugar tragedy. But it is encouraging that OSHA is finally moving forward with the rulemaking process. At the end of the day, our job as safety professionals, is to make sure that the American worker goes home safe.
Posted by JC NICHOLS on October 27, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Posted on October 27, 2009 at 11:00 AM