Just got an update this morning from the Weekly Toll Blog on a bunch of workplace issues on their site, however, the combustible dust standards information is what I wanted to draw readers to today:

I wanted to make a note that with all the combustible dust talk there has been I have came across a few issues surrounding the HR 5522. One being that companies are not able to find the resources for testing so for that I have found two places (in the States) one is the longstanding Chilworth Technology located at http://www.chilworth.com/ and the other recently brought to the combustible dust scene EMSL Analytical, located http://www.emsl.com/

Next there are a few issues that the bill did not seem to strongly address.
Most know the Fire Triangle.
1. Fuel
2. Oxygen
3. Heat

For combustible dust the fuel is dust, oxygen is a gimmy and then there is the heat or ignition source, which is commonly know as a spark or heat from near by equipment possibly even an individual. The problem is most do not consider the dust itself as and ignition source. This is possible in many ways such as product transfer. Transferring the product manually or through a process can build up a static charge a charge can also be obtained by dust rubbing against piping so there a few more variables to consider. Most variables are simple fixes such as clean up, containment and not using anything glass lined, the right type sweepers and bags. Now these issues are addressed in part but emphasis are not put on why and how. Most of this however should be common knowledge to those in the field but just incase it is a heads up.

In case you don't recall, you can read previous information on this site in relation to combustible dust. And for those more visual, I suggest you take a miute and watch the CBS piece on combustible dust.



What's most interesting in the update is that the fuel that really starts the chain reaction is Dust. Dust. And USMWF notes that this is barely being addressed. Where grain was concerned, these dust issues were addressed and the standards have proven to be helpful in saving lives all over this country. So, why should anyone in a manufacturing setting not have the same sort of protection?

Come on Congress, We Need A Combustible Dust Standard.

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From Metro City Labor News this morning:

LABOR UPDATES: Transit Workers Still Waiting for Increased Safety Measures: A recent shooting injuring a bus operator outside the Anacostia Metro station underscores the need for the US Congress to act on a measure that would increase security for transit workers, says a letter posted on the ATU Local 689 website. This "shooting demonstrates the need for increased safety on our region's public transit system," says the letter. "Over the past five years, assaults of Metrobus operators have more than doubled, from 36 in 2002 to 84 last year." The DC City Council passed the "Transit Operator Protection and Enhanced Penalty Act of 2008" in April (DC Council Increases Metro Worker Safety 4/7/08 UC) but the US Congress has stalled on giving final approval to the measure. "There are 10 Metro Transit Police officers who are supposed to protect 2,200 drivers, said Roland Jeter, first vice president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689," reported Allison Klein and Sindya N. Bhanoo of the Washington Post on Thursday, June 19. "About half of the buses have security cameras, and many have defective emergency buttons, which drivers use to call for help, he said."

Come on Democrats, act already. If you ride the metro or take a metro bus, you should act now and make it possible for these workers to be safer. They still won't be safe, but just taking a little action could help make them just a little bit safer.

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