Proposed Dust Safety Rule Scrapped

The Obama Administration has scrapped a proposed dust safety rule that would reduce the risk of dust-related fires and explosions in the workplace.

Just four years ago, a deadly fire occurred at the AL Solutions, Inc. chemical plant in New Cumberland, West Virginia, killing three workers. The plant was responsible for breaking down scrap titanium and zirconium metals and pressing them into alloy additives. An investigation of the incident revealed several safety violations, some of which includes the following:

• Metal storage containers were left open and unguarded.
• A water-based fire suppression system was used (note: investigators say water could intensify titanium and/or zirconium-related fires).
• No dust collection/filtration system in place.

What's even more alarming, however, is that a test conducted by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) found titanium and zirconium -- the two primary metals processed at the AL Solutions plant -- to be highly flammable, and the dust from these two metals to pose a high risk for explosion. The combustible properties of titanium and zirconium combined with the aforementioned safety violations led to a deadly incident that officials hope to avoid in the future.

According to news report, CSB requested OSHA to create a dust safety rule since 2006. It wasn't until 2008, however, when Barack Obama (Senator at the time) announced plans to create a dust rule. In 2009, OSHA began working on this rule.

Now for the bad news: in November, a spokesperson for OSHA said the dust safety rule was moved to a "long-term" priority. This doesn't necessarily mean the rule is scrapped altogether, but it's unlikely we'll see it passed anytime soon. Why is OSHA pushing back a rule that  could potentially save lives? Jesse Lawder, an OSHA spokesman, said the administration must focus its time and resources on other rules, such as silica exposure and construction in confined spaces.

"Absent a combustible dust standard, workers will continue to be killed or injured unnecessarily in fires and explosions, and productive businesses will be destroyed. The recent tragedy at a Chinese auto parts company underscores the danger, but we have seen all too many similar incidents here in the United States. I urge OSHA to move forward with a combustible dust standard," said CSB Chairman Rafael Moure-Eraso.

Do you think OSHA should implement a dust safety standard? Let us know in the comments section below!