A Combustible Dust Policy Institute (CDPI) preliminary analysis of 2011 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) incident data provided by the National Fire Data Center of the U.S. Fire Administration indicated over 500 combustible dust related incidents in manufacturing facilities where dust was the item first ignited. Near misses include incidents that did not result in harm to personnel, the facility, process, or product. Analysis did not include the grain elevators or coal-fired energy plants. Additionally, the CDPI analysis does not include many incidents not reported by fire departments to the National Fire Data Center (NFDC). As a result there are many more combustible dust related incidents that cannot be evaluated in determining whether the incident was a near miss or not. Special thanks to the nation's Fire Departments, NFIC State Program Managers, and the National Fire Data Center at the U.S. Fire Administration in sharing this valuable Information. Near misses can no longer be ignored. It's very distressing that OSHA in the combustible dust rulemaking process in conjunction with the legislators in the reintroduction of the proposed combustible dust bill H.R. 691 have chosen to exclude 95% of combustible dust related incidents occuring in manufacturing facilities, which do not result in personnel casualties. Yet these very same incidents, as history illustrates are precursors to catastrophe. The rest of the story.... http://dustexplosions.blogspot.com/2013/04/fact-sheet-2011-combustible-dust.html

1. Fact Sheet
2011 Combustible Dust Related
Incidents
U.S.A. Manufacturing Facilities
National Fire Incident Reporting System
(NFIRS) Analysis
Combustible Dust Policy Institute

2. Combustible Dust Related Incidents
2011
Employee
Casualites Near Misses
5%
Property/Content Loss
Damages
28% Employee Casualites
Near Misses
67%
Combustible Dust Policy Institute
Combustible Dust Policy Institute

3. CDPI Notes
• Over 500 combustible dust related incidents in 2011.
• NFIRS analysis does not include grain elevators or coal-
fired energy plants.
• Many incidents not reported to NFIRS by fire
departments.
• Dust, #94 item first ignited (NFIRS Fire Module).
• Near miss includes no harm to personnel, property or
contents.
Combustible Dust Policy Institute

4. U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB)
“Near Misses”
Hayes Lemmerz International
CSB Accident Investigation Report
September 2005
“Smaller incidents and “near misses” often
foreshadow serious accidents. If companies
learn from and respond to smaller events, they
can prevent more serious incidents.”
Combustible Dust Policy Institute

5. U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB)
“Near Misses”
Imperial Sugar Company
CSB Accident Investigation Report
September 2009
"The CSB concluded that the small events and
“near-misses” caused company management,
and the managers and workers at both the Port
Wentworth, Georgia, and Gramercy, Louisiana,
facilities to lose sight of the ongoing and
significant hazards posed by accumulated sugar
dust in the packing buildings."
Combustible Dust Policy Institute

6. U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB)
“Near Misses”
Hoeganaes Corporation
CSB Case Study
December 2011
"Operators and mechanics reported being involved
in multiple flash fires during their employment at
the Gallatin facility. Rarely would operators
report the minor flash fires and “near-misses”
that periodically occurred."
Combustible Dust Policy Institute

7. Special Thanks to
Fire Departments, NFIC State Program Managers, and the
National Fire Data Center at the U.S. Fire Administration
in Providing Valuable NFIRS Data
Combustible Dust Policy Institute